Samuel Inkoom’s spectacular fall from grace to grass – Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results

Former Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom, who benefited significantly from football, appears to have fallen from grace to grass in a spectacular turn of event for the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup winner.

The 35-year-old enjoyed a blistering career, playing for  teams based in 9 different countries, namely Switzerland, Ukraine, France, Greece, United States of America, Portugal, Turkey, Bulgaria and  Georgia before returning to native Ghana to close the chapter at giants Hearts of Oak.

The defender, who earned millions of hard currency at the apex of his impressive career, is now confronted with legal battles and a mounting debt.

The former Asante Kotoko defender has come under the spotlight for the wrong reasons amid multiple allegations of fraud and defrauding by false pretences, in an extraordinary downward spiral for the iconic right-back.

Inkoom’s reputation is hanging by a thread after being hit with multiple charges including allegations of visa fraud and defrauding by false pretences.

Inkoom, capped 44 times by Ghana, is accused of taking a paltry $3,500 from student Benjamin Opare Addo, promising to secure a visa to the Netherlands, but failed to deliver, an Accra High Court was told on Monday.

He has pleaded not guilty and has since been granted bail of GH¢50,000 with one surety.

In his defense, Inkoom’s lawyer argued for bail, citing that the accused had refunded GH₵7,000 and was making efforts to return the remaining balance of GH₵25,100.

According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, Inkoom, who claimed to be the owner of S. Inkoom Travel and Tour Company, convinced Addo in September 2023 that he could secure a visa to the Netherlands for a fee of $3,500.

Between September and November 2023, Addo paid a total of GHC32,100 in installments.

The court heard that Inkoom failed to deliver the promised visa within the agreed timeframe and, after repeated unsuccessful attempts by Addo to recover his money or obtain the visa, the matter was reported to the police.

The former Black Stars defender was arrested on January 11, 2024, and admitted to the offense, refunding GH₵7,000 but failing to return the remaining GH₵25,100.

In September 2024, Inkoom was again dragged to the Kwabenya Circuit Court in Accra over an US$8,000 he allegedly swindled from two complainants.

In court, Inkoom explained that he has put his properties up for sale to raise the funds needed for the refund.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Gershon Togo Achondo, detailed the case against Inkoom, stating that complainants Doris Dankwa and her fiancé, Seth Osei Addai, initially sought his help to facilitate their relocation from Dubai to the USA.

Inkoom reportedly claimed to have a company capable of securing visas for the two and asked each complainant for US$4,000, which was paid through Dankwa’s father, John Dadzie.

However, after receiving a total of US$8,000, Inkoom failed to provide the promised visas, ignoring numerous attempts to contact him.

The police subsequently invited him multiple times, but he did not respond, leading to his summons to court via mobile phone.

It’s unclear what happened to the millions the footballer earned during his active career amid suspicion he may have taken to extravagant spending which largely affected his finances or perhaps got involved in some misguided business ventures.

Multiple sources claim the former Black Stars player has fallen on hard times amid struggles to offset his debt.

The defender, who suffered a one-year global ban over money he owed a former agent in 2017,  helped Ghana win the world and continental under-20 titles in 2009 which earned him a place in the Black Stars squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Inkoom enjoyed a stellar career featuring for several clubs abroad including, FC Basel, Dnipro, Bastia, Boavista, DC United, Antalyaspor, Dunav Ruse amongst others.

Inkoom’s disturbing story serves as a reminder and a warning to the younger generation to be mindful about the handling of their finances once they hit the limelight.