My Missing Millions At Okwawu United - Nana Agyeman

Mr Ben Koufie
Chairman Ghana Football Association
Accra, Ghana

Dear Sir

RE: Memorandum of Understanding between Okwawu United Football Club and myself, dated the 8th May 2003

I am a UEFA “B” Licensed Football Coach. My United Kingdom, F.A. Coaches Association Registration number is: F0012424.

After over five years of intermittent contribution throughout Ghana I have now finally relocated myself in Ghana in a bid to contribute to the development of football within the country on a more permanent footing.

I joined Okwawu United Football Club officially on the 1st April 2003 as the Head Coach and the Head of the Technical Team (Appendix A). The club was not in a sound financial position neither did the club possess the necessary equipment required to promote a successful training session.

My initial contribution to the club came in the form of the provision of fifty footballs, training bibs, cones (large & small) medical provisions, water bottles, two pairs of removable goal posts, sixteen pairs of tracksuits (for players and technical team) and a complete set of jerseys.

At training sessions I often contributed to the purchase of ice water and ensured that many of the players were able to pay transportation costs on their way back home.

After playing a few friendly matches it became clear that there was a need to purchase a few more players to strengthen the team. Three players were identified, two from Liberty Professionals and one from Accra Hearts of Oak. However the costs of these players exceeded the amount of finances available.

In a further demonstration of my willingness to contribute I loaned Okwawu United FC the sum of twenty million Cedis so that we could procure the services of Samuel Monnie from Accra Hearts of Oak.

Another occasion occurred when we wished to purchase Mike Serwonu from Seven United Football Club but was financially distressed, so I loaned Okwawu United FC a further sum of eight million Cedis to procure his services.

In total I had loaned Okwawu United FC the sum of twenty eight million Cedis. A memorandum of understanding (Appendix B) was prepared and subsequently signed by the Secretary, Mr Oduro Nyarko which clearly stated that I would be repaid from “Okwawu’s share of the gate for the 7th week league fixture with Asante kotoko.” The Sports Council were instructed to “deduct this sum at source” in order to pay me.

Due to national football interests the 7th week fixture was delayed until the 23rd July 2003. On the afternoon of that particular day I contacted one of the Sport Council Accountants by telephone only to be informed that that the Chairman of Okwawu United FC had written a letter revoking the agreement between them and myself as well as Liberty Professionals too.

The letter claimed that the Chairman had no knowledge of the memorandum and as such no monies should be paid. The letter went on further to state that negotiations with the parties concerned would be an issue for the management to take up and deal with in due course.

During the game I met and spoke with the Chairman of Okwawu United FC about the issue and he assured me that he had no problem with me but would ensure payment the following day at his office at two o’ clock.

I attended his office on the 24th July 2003 and was informed by the Chairman that he was not prepared to pay me any money unless I could bring Kofi Poku of L-Sporto with me as Mr Poku was the Director of operations at the time and the money I loaned the club was given to him.

I contacted Kofi Poku and we met at the Chairman’s office.

During this meeting reference was made about the sum of four thousand dollars and twenty five million Cedis the chairman claimed he had given to Kofi Poku. The Chairman claimed that he had not received the items he had paid for and that Kofi Poku should return the money that very evening along with the twenty five million Cedis.

Not less than one hour was spent working through financial documents Kofi Poku had provided to establish a total balance outstanding. Once this was established I was informed that unless these monies were paid back to the Chairman that I would not be paid any money at all.

An agreement was prepared for Kofi Poku to sign accepting the final balance as monies he owed to the Chairman. I was also asked to accept that if Kofi Poku paid the monies outstanding that then and only then would I be paid the twenty eight million Cedis owed to me by the Club.

I was unwilling to agree and was coerced/persuaded by a few of the management members who informed me that they would speak to the Chairman and ensure that I would be paid the full amount the very next day. Subsequently I reluctantly agreed and Kofi Poku signed the agreement. We were then able to leave the office, it was approximately mid-night!

I returned to the Chairman’s office the next day and received a cheque for eight million Cedis (Appendix C) which I promptly cashed.

The money owed to the Chairman by Kofi Poku has nothing at all to do with me. I was not around and did not know any of the parties involved at the time! I can not see the relevance of holding me to ransom because of my association with Kofi Poku and wish my money to be returned immediately.

Since my appointment I have only been paid the sum of five million Cedis. This came in the form of one payment of four million Cedis at the end of May 2003 and another payment of one million Cedis three weeks ago.

The salary agreed was four million Cedis per month which included increments to compensate for travel and accommodation. I have not been paid for the months of May, June, or July. Therefore the total salary outstanding is eleven million Cedis.

With regards the “enticement fee” the discussions on this matter were never concluded, however the initial discussion was based around the sum of ten-fifteen million Cedis.

To summarise the loan of twenty million Cedis plus the salary of eleven million Cedis brings total monies outstanding to thirty one million Cedis.

It is against this brief background that I am writing to you in a bid to seek your assistance in retrieving the money owed to me. I have also enclosed for your information my letter of resignation (Appendix D) and finally a letter requesting the “A” card of player Kobina Edmund Sekyi (Appendix E).

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely
Nana Kwaku Agyemang
UEFA Licensed Coach

CC: Rt. Hon. Minister: Youth Education & Sport
CC: Chairman Ghana Football Association
CC: Chairman GHALCA
CC: General Secretary GHASOCA