If there’s anybody who wishes for a break, then that fellow ought to be the charismatic captain of the nation’s senior soccer team, Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan aka Baby Jet.
After suffering a lot of scrutiny over the saga of Castro and Janet, he had to contend with the public backlash over the Daniel Kenu assault and is currently injured and sure to miss the last two qualifying matches for the Black Stars to the 2015 African Cup of Nations.
In the midst of all that negative publicity, another issue is rearing its head over agreement to sponsor a beauty pageant organized last year.
Vits Instant Noodles, which is owned by the footballer, was one of the main sponsors that supported last year’s edition of Miss Excel Plus and according to the information Razz Newspaper gathered, the company sponsored the pageant in both cash and in products with the entire sponsorship package allegedly promised the organizers being GHC7, 000.
It honoured the products sponsorship which amounted to GHC2, 000 but has allegedly, since last year, failed to honour its cash obligation.
However, checks by Razz Newspaper clearly show that organizers of the pageant used Vits and its logo in all of its (pageant) promotional mediums- online, newspapers, stickers and television commercials but both parties are still arguing over the legal-bondable of their contract.
Further investigations revealed that, the issue dragged on for months until it finally got to counsel for Asamoah Gyan, Lawyer Kissi Agyabeng, who ordered Vits to pay the organizers.
Though the lawyer asked for the full payment of the sponsorship amount based on the fact that, the organisers used Vits’ image and logos in all of its promotional activities, Vits paid half of the amount-leaving the balance in arrears and have refused to pay.
When the paper got in touch with Lawyer Kissi Agyabeng, he said quite a lot on the said agreement between his client’s company and organisers of the pageant.
“This issue has come before my table before; where the organisers claimed Vits owes them for sponsoring their pageant. Unfortunately, when I went through the company’s books, I saw no records to that effect. The company has no sponsoring memorandum of understanding with the organisers. I therefore requested the organisers to provide proof, as in, a contractual agreement that indicates that Vits made a pledge to sponsor them.
Unfortunately, they could not provide any evidence, letter or document. I must admit however that, they showed me a minute TV commercial with Vits in it. Due to that, I asked the managers to fulfill the promise and pay them GHC1, 500; though the organisers claimed the actual amount is GHC3, 000,” he said.
Lawyer Kissi made further revelations: “I got confirmation that the GHC1, 500 was paid to them but later, someone from the organisers end sent me a whatsapp message, threatening me. The tone of the message was in a bad taste. I ignored the message. I did not reply.”
Asked if he will order for the payment of the balance, he said: “no. what for? They could not and still have not provided any evidence so why should we pay them? I’m a lawyer, if they have a case, I would have ordered for them to be paid – considering the person involved.
Asamoah Gyan is popular so there is that possibility for anyone to walk up with any allegation. Today its GHC1, 500, tomorrow, it may be GHC10, 000 or more,” he claimed.
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