Former Asante Kotoko Goalkeeper, Isaac Amoako has revealed that the playing body and staff involved in an accident has still not received any compensation from the club, after almost three years on.
The playing body and other staff of the club on 12 July, 2017 after a 1-0 defeat to Inter Allies in Accra in a matchday 22 clash ran into a stationary truck at Nkawkaw whilst returning to their Kumasi base.
The accident claimed the life of Kotoko’s Equipment Officer, Thomas Obeng Asare and led to various injuries sustained by players including Baba Mahama, Ahmed Adams, Ollenu Ashitey, Michael Akuffo as well as head coach at the time, Steve Pollack.
Speaking on BA TV’s Anopa Busuo Sports, Amoako who is the spokesman for the accident victims, expressed his disappointment in the Kotoko leadership for failing to honour their promise of financially compensating the victims after several appeals since 2017.
“Coming Sunday, July 14, 2020 will mark three years since the horrific incident happened but still not received a penny from Kotoko and we don’t know as to when our compensations would be paid,” said Amoako.
” The refusal of the Kotoko leadership to pay our monies has placed a heavy toll on most of the victims” he said.
“Longest serving team driver Nana Berchie has been at home due to the accident he had, while Baba Mahama and Ollenu Ashitey have had their playing careers stymied.”
According to Amoako they appeared before the recent three-member committee led by Prof Lydia Nkansah that held deliberations to address pertinent challenges affecting the club with the committee but they promised to forward their grievances to the appropriate authorities.
“We are aware that the newly constituted board led by previous board chair, Dr Kwame Kyei who held that position at the time of the accident, had begun paying off several debts incurred by the club but still not heard from him” he added.
Amoako expressed a glimmer of hope they might be factored in.
However, he stated that despite petitioning the new board about their plight, they were still not received an official response or invitation to discuss their situation.
Sunday July 14 will mark exactly three years since the tragic incident occurred, we will not keep quiet, until Kotoko leadership pay our compensation to us (Victims)”, Amoako said.
Credit: BA TV