KOTOKO NOT AFRAID OF PROBE (PAGE 31, DEC 14, 2010)

THE management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko say they are totally unfazed by calls by a former board member for a probe into their operations.
Speaking on behalf of management, Public Affairs Manager of Kotoko, Jarvis Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that the Dr K.K. Sarpong administration had not done anything wrong to fear a probe.
“We will welcome it even today, “ he said confidently.
Former board member, Alhaji Ahmed Bandoh, better known as Alhaji Bahmed, last week called for a probe into the financial administration of Asante Kotoko, alleging, among other things deals in sponsorships entered into by the club.
The allegation was a by-product of the rift between Bahmed and executive chairman, Dr Sarpong, which reached boiling point last week with accusations and counter accusations which sometimes turned personal.
According to Bahmed, who announced his resignation last Thursday as a result of the fracas with the Executive Chairman, certain officers in the club were fleecing the club by unduly benefiting from sponsorship deals.
But, in a reaction to the allegation, Mr Peprah told this paper that the statement by the former board member was unfortunate because as an insider, he (Bahmed) should have known the arrangements in the club with regard to sponsorships.
Mr Peprah explained that it was a policy in Asante Kotoko that anyone or entity who managed to get a sponsorship for the club is entitled to 10 per cent of the total deal.
Asked whether management members were included in the arrangement, he answered in the affirmative.
“Any management member who can get a sponsorship for the club is entitled to 10 per cent of the deal. This is institutionalised in the club,” he said.
Mr Peprah rejected a suggestion that such a situation amounted to conflict of interest.
He would, however, not confirm or deny that any official in the current administration had benefited from that arrangement.
The public affairs manager said the Dr Sarpong administration was very transparent and would never hide anything from the supporters.
Mr Peprah further dismissed an allegation of one-man show made against the executive chairman by Bahmed.
He insisted that Dr Sarpong had been a team player who respects the views of every member of the administration and supporters.