Didier Drogba is very angry and has taken steps towards suing a British website for an alleged statement that only a fraction of the outrageous funds from his Charity Foundation is spent on charity projects.
The newspapers continued that a big part of the funds is spent on lavish fundraising parties but the foundation claims it has built a hospital and 5 clinics in Ivory Coast.
A counter argument from the newspaper says apart from the hospital, the other listed clinics are sitting empty without staff or equipment.
Therefore it has become necessary for the United Kingdom’s Charity Commission to launch an investigation based on the allegations. Daily Mail UK is said to have carried out an investigation on the Didier Drogba Foundation (with an estimated $3.1million capital) before making the public statement.
In the report released by the charity watchdog, the Commission has very “serious regulatory concerns about a number of compliance issue raised and have contacted the charity to seek an urgent response.”
The Commission’s Chief Operating Officer David Holdsworth continued in his briefing: “In particular, the commission has concerns about the administration of the charity and the oversight provided by trustees, all of whom appear to live abroad, as well as allegations that the charity has provided misleading information to donors and the public.
“Further, the charity has raised and accumulated significant sums of money that have not yet been spent and further information is required over the plans to spend those funds.”
According to the Montreal Impact striker who established the foundation in 2007, “there is no fraud, no corruption, no mismanagement, no lies, no impropriety.
Didier Drogba continued, “Their attempts to destroy the work of the foundation will not deter me and will not stop me continuing the work we have begun.”
The famous footballer has vowed to defend his name with the last drop of his blood. He revealed that on many occasions he had spent his hard-earned money to pay for such fundraising parties.
For saying that only less than 1% of the total funds from Drogba’s foundation actually goes to charity, the footballer believes the newspaper is “jeopardizing the lives of many thousands of African children”.
He said: “The effect on these kids in need of healthcare and education is unimaginable.”
“They have already caused an untold amount of damage by contacting all of my sponsors, my colleagues and many of my friends, who generously helped the foundation with donations, and put doubts in their mind about whether to continue to support us in the future.
“I come from a poor family and I had to work hard to get where I am today but this would mean nothing to me if I wasn’t able to give back to my country, my continent and my community.”
A short list of famous people who endorsed the foundation include: Princess Beatrice, David Beckham, Bono, Frank Lampard and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
A copy of the statement from Didier Drogba Foundation:
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