Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Culture Fest, Nana Boateng Gyimah, has challenged Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams to provide evidence for allegations that the festival illegally received US$611,000 and failed to refund the money.
In a statement issued on October 12, Gyimah denied receiving the alleged amount, either personally or through Tribe Culture Fest, from any private individual in connection with the arrangements in question.
He said the festival’s agreement was exclusively with the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
“For the record, Tribe Culture’s agreement was solely with the National Sports Authority and Ghana Tourism Authority. Tribe Culture Fest nor I received the alleged US$611,000 from any private individual in connection with the arrangements in question,” he said.
Gyimah has demanded that the minister produce any agreement, authorisation or consent linking him or the festival to the alleged financial arrangement.
He also wants verifiable payment records showing who paid the money, who received it, when the transaction occurred and how the minister arrived at the US$611,000 figure.
He warned that the allegations could damage his reputation and the festival’s credibility if they were not supported by evidence.
Gyimah has given Adams the option of providing evidence or withdrawing the allegations and correcting the public record, warning that his lawyers could take up the matter.
“I call on the Minister to substantiate his allegations or withdraw them and correct the public record or have my lawyers to deal with,” he said.
