Journalist Network Calls Out Dan Kwaku Yeboah for False Claims on Akufo-Addo’s Sports Sector Achievement
By: Justice Nii Togbor
The Journalist Network For Youth Advocacy and Good Governance (JONYAGG) has issued a press statement denouncing sports journalist Dan Kwaku Yeboah for spreading false information regarding President Akufo-Addo’s sports sector achievements. The network has called for Yeboah to retract his claims and issue an apology for misleading the public.
In a viral video, Yeboah can be seen making several false assertions about President Akufo-Addo’s accomplishments in the sports sector. Among these claims are the construction of 10 stadia (Youth Centres), with six of them allegedly ready for commissioning. He also stated that over 150 astroturfs have been built under the President’s administration, along with the renovation of the Accra Sports Stadium (Ohene Gyan Sports).
In a statement issued issued and signed by its Executive Secretary, Cephas Kobina Darko Mensah, JONYAGG has thoroughly investigated these claims and found them to be entirely false. The network has provided detailed information on the current status of the stadia, revealing that none of the six mentioned by Yeboah are ready for commissioning. The completion percentages range from 70% to 95%, with the Koforidua Stadium being an existing facility that underwent renovation rather than a new construction.
Furthermore, JONYAGG has pointed out that Yeboah’s claim of over 150 astroturfs being built is grossly inaccurate. The network refers to page 14, item 67, of the NPP’s own book titled “Bawumia outlines 100+ Achievement of NPP Government,” which clearly states that the government has built 80 astroturfs. Thus, Yeboah’s inflated figures raise questions about the source of his information.
JONYAGG has also raised concerns about the quality of work done during the renovation of the Accra Sports Stadium, citing the recent friendly match between the Blackstars of Ghana and the Lonestars of Liberia as evidence. If the pitch used for the match is indeed a renovated one, the network believes that the authorities at the National Sports Authority and the Sports Minister must be held accountable for the substandard work that has cost the country millions of cedis. JONYAGG plans to petition the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the responsible authorities involved in the Accra Sports Stadium renovation.
In conclusion, JONYAGG advises Dan Kwaku Yeboah to refrain from being swayed by political motives and to always present the facts accurately. Spreading false information undermines the integrity of journalism and misleads the public. The network urges Yeboah to retract his claims and issue a public apology for his misleading statements.