Ghana has opened an investigation into how the head of the country’s football association spent $200,000 in government money meant to prepare for the 2014 World Cup, according to a report released this week. The probe of Kwesi Nyantakyi will begin immediately and investigators will also conduct an audit to review claims the national team incurred more than $1 million in debt during friendly matches against Cape Verde, Nigeria and Togo, said the report issued on Thursday night.
The association has not explained the debt in detail. It has said $350,000 received following a friendly match with Japan was used to offset debt.Officials will also determine whether fees for matches against Holland and South Korea were paid to the football association. President John Dramani Mahama’s cabinet had asked the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to fund the matches, according to the report.
The football association “must make available all contracts for friendly matches played” and name all match agents involved, the report said. The investigation comes amid rising concern about corruption in football. Ghana’s football association cancelled a press conference on Friday at which it had been expected to discuss the report. In an interview with the BBC earlier this month, Nyantakyi lamented “a lack of respect for Africans” and disputed claims of corruption by African footballl officials.