TRIBE Culture Fest has challenged Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams to produce evidence for his allegation that the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Nana Boateng Gyimah, illegally received US$611,000 and has refused to repay it.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, October 18, Nana Gyimah said the claim risked damaging TRIBE Culture Fest’s reputation, commercial relationships and standing with the public before the facts had been established.
He called on the Minister to release documents showing who allegedly made the payments, who received the money and the agreement said to require its repayment. The organisation also wants the legal basis of any contract that supposedly created an obligation to refund the funds.
TRIBE Culture Fest said it rejected any suggestion that the allegation amounted to proven illegal conduct in the absence of supporting evidence.
“We therefore reject any attempt to present the allegation against TRIBE or its CEO as a proven instance of illegal conduct without the supporting evidence being established.
“We ask the Minister to publicly identify the documentary and transactional basis for the allegation, including the agreement said to create the obligation, the persons said to have made the payments, the identity of the recipient and the basis upon which the money is said to be refundable by TRIBE,” the CEO noted.
Nana Gyimah said public officials had a duty to communicate accurately and fairly, particularly when their statements could be treated as established facts because of the authority attached to their positions.
He added that the organisation did not oppose investigations into credible allegations, but insisted that findings of wrongdoing should not be made before the relevant facts had been verified.
“Our position is not that allegations should never be investigated. On the contrary, all credible allegations should be investigated thoroughly. Our position is that investigation must precede conclusions about guilt, and that public accusations should be grounded in verifiable facts,” he stated.
The CEO also disclosed that TRIBE Culture Fest’s lawyers had formally demanded that the Sports Minister withdraw the allegations and issue an unqualified apology.
He said the organisation continued to stand by that demand and had reserved its legal rights. According to Nana Gyimah, TRIBE Culture Fest would deal with the matter through the appropriate legal process rather than through political confrontation or speculation.
“We maintain that position and reserve all rights available to us under applicable law. This is a matter we intend to address through the proper legal channels, not through political confrontation or speculation.”
