The Manhyia palace has, in a statement signed by the Chief of Staff of Asantehene, Kofi Badu, called on the media to cease fire on its ‘hostility’ ranting on Asante Kotoko following judgement debts that has hit the club, as the palace “takes steps to deal with any issues confronting the club”.
The Porcupine warriors have both domestic and international transfer ban hovering around their neck following the imposition of a $240,000 fine by FIFA for breaching transfer regulations in the transfer of striker Emmanuel Clottey from Tunisian giants Esperance Sportive de Tunis back in 2015. FIFA has ruled that Kotoko’s failure to pay the fine within 30 days from the ruling implies an automatic transfer ban on the club.
Stakeholders of the game, the media especially, has been lambasting top officials of the club who it feels are responsible for negligence in dealing with the situation which has now caused the club huge sums of judgement debts.
The incessant media attacks on the to brass of the club triggered the release of a strong worded statement from the Manhyia palace on Wednesday in which the palace has call for immediate end of the “unedifying attacks upon individual officers which can only have the effect of undermining the unity and integrity of the Asante Kotoko SC family and bringing the club into disrepute”.
“Manhyia Palace calls for the immediate cessation of all media hostilities as it takes steps to deal with any issues confronting the club”, the statement ordered. Supporters and concerned patrons are assured that action is being taken to meet the obligations of the club and there is no danger of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club being allowed to suffer any consequential penalties”, it assured.
According to the statement from Manhyia, a committee has been appointed by the owner of Asante Kotoko – His Majesty Otumfour Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the Porcupine Warriors’ transactions with Esperance which resulted in the said FIFA ruling and the subsequent transfer of the said player. The committee has also been tasked to investigate the club’s failure to meet its regulatory obligations for the Premier League Licencing Board.
It must be noted however, that the Executive Chairman of the club, Dr. Kwame Kyei, upon his appointment by the Asantehene on the 12th of November 2016, tasked him to constitute a Board of Directors, a directive which fulfills the requirement of the Premier League Club Licencing Board. Dr. Kyei, for reasons unknown to the writer, failed to constitute the Board which would have been subject to approval from the club owner throughout his now expired three-year mandate. The outcome of the appointed committee’s investigation into the matter may therefore prove crucial in the decision of the Asantehene “on the future direction of the club”.
Below is the full statement released by Manhyia:
