Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah will be surcharged if investigations into the activities of the Fan Parks operated by Evolution International during the 2014 World Cup tournament reveal misappropriation of funds of funds.
In the lead up to the World Cup, the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) gave some funds to Evolution International on behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to operate the Fan Parks in Ghana.
Persons and organizations including Evolution International which were one way or the other involved in Ghana’s preparation and participation in the tournament appeared before the Dzamefe Commission.
On Thursday, the white paper on the report of the commission of inquiry was released in which the government indicated that it has accepted the recommendation that the further investigations be carried out into the activities of the Fan Parks managed by Evolution International.
Government has agreed that “any misappropriation or misapplication of the funds given by GNPC to Evolution International on behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports should be refunded by Evolution International or surcharge d to the former Minister for Youth and Sports (Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah).”
It also said: “The activities of the Fan Parks as produced and managed by Evolution International should be further investigated and any net income accruing from the execution of the Fan Parks should be paid to the state with interest at the prevailing bank rate.”
Background
Evolution International is a company owned by one Fred Ebo Darko who doubled as the project coordinator for the 2014 World Cup planning committee.
The Fan Parks Dubbed “Brazil in Ghana” was one of the main initiatives of the World Cup planning committee to roll out in all the 10 regional capitals for Ghanaian soccer enthusiasts who could not make it to Brazil.
Evolution International was then given the contract to operate the Fan Parks.
However, Mr. Darko during his appearance before the Dzamefe Commission stated that the World Cup planning committee was unable to carry out the “Brazil in Ghana” project because they failed to get sponsorship for the project and therefore authorized private firms to handle it.
He explained that the committee discovered that there were eight other companies that were competing for sponsorship to operate the Fan Park.
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