Ghanaââ¬â¢s Presidential Commissionà of inquiry into the Blackà stars shambolic World Cup campaignà has insisted it will carry outà the probe despite a warning fromà the world governing body, FiFA.
The government-mooted probeà insists FIFA cannot intimidate theà commission from stopping its workà citing the sovereign independence ofà Ghana.
A member of the commission,à Moses Foh-Amoaning, rubbished theà world governing bodyââ¬â¢s threats thatà the terms of reference of the commissionà violates FIFAââ¬â¢s statutes insistingà the Switzerland-based body cannotà stop the three-man body from investigatingà the Ghana FA.
Foh-Amoaningââ¬â¢s sharp reactionà to FIFA came in the wake of threatsà by the worldââ¬â¢s football governingà body to apply appropriate sanctionsà against the move.
FIFA has warned that a Commissionà to investigate the Ghana Footballà Association (GFA) and delve intoà issues bordering on the competenceà and administration of football in theà country is inappropriate.
This, it said, could lead to sanctionsà if the government goes aheadà with the Commissionââ¬â¢s terms of reference.à But Foh-Amoaning, a legal practitioner,à hit back at FIFA saying:
ââ¬ÅAsà a sovereign nation, the Ghana Governmentà has the right to probe theà Starsââ¬â¢ campaign in Brazil since it is ofà public interest.
ââ¬ÅUnder no circumstance wouldà we be intimidated by anybody orà power and would cross the bridgeà when we get there,â⬠he said.
In a letter dated August 7 andà signed by Deputy General Secretaryà of FIFA, Markus Kattner, the bodyà warned the country to stay clear ofà interfering in the affairs of the GFAà and to respect the autonomy of theà FA or risk sanctions.
Mr Foh-Amoaning said all football-à related activities could be subjectedà to probe when necessary, citingà how the Swizz Police once raidedà the office of the FIFA President, Seppà Blatter, unannounced in order to gainà access to some vital documents in aà matter which was under investigation.
ââ¬ÅMy brothers, tell me of whatà became of that action by the police.à Was Switzerland sanctioned becauseà of that investigation by the police?ââ¬Ã he quizzed.
The Commission, which startsà sitting today August 11 and workingà within a two-week period, has beenà tasked to look into the principles andà policies that underpin systems andà structures employed by the FA inà running Ghana football.
They are mandated, amongst others,à to look into events as pertainedà to preparations, exit, treatment ofà fans, remuneration of players andà officials.
It is expected, therefore, to giveà an overview and recommendationsà per their findings at the close ofà work.