Didier Drogba’s charity under investigation as proofs show £1.7million raised never reached 'sick Africans'

Didier Drogba ‘s charity, backed by Princess Beatrice and David Beckham, is under investigation after the Mail found less than 1 per cent of the cash it raised in the UK has gone to good causes. Stars, royals and businessmen have donated more than £1.7 million to a foundation set up by the former Chelsea striker as supporters, including Bono, Frank Lampard and Christine Bleakley, were told the cash would build a hospital and help educate impoverished children in his West African homeland of Ivory Coast. But, disturbingly, accounts show that just £14,115 went to good causes. More than 30 times that amount — £439,321 — was spent putting on lavish fundraising parties, where the Princess and other famous guests enjoyed champagne and were entertained by leading pop stars — while the rest was left languishing in accounts.
The shocking evidence will horrify the charity’s backers, including Pele, John Terry, Roger Federer and Donna Air, the girlfriend of the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother James. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is also known to have made a ‘large personal donation’.
There were also questions last night about millions of pounds in sponsorship earnings from Pepsi, Nike and Samsung, which Drogba claims have gone to the charity. The money, none of which appears in the charity’s UK accounts, is understood to have been paid into an account in the charity’s name in Ivory Coast. And while the charity claims all of this sponsorship money has been used for charitable activities, it has not gone through the UK arm and none of these activities have ever been open to scrutiny by the UK Charity Commission.
In addition, the Didier Drogba Foundation has declined to reveal whether the star paid UK income tax on these sponsorship payments, made over six years while he was with Chelsea and living in a £7 million mansion in Surrey. Last night, the Charity Commission launched an urgent probe after being handed a dossier of evidence by the Mail.
The regulator’s chief operating officer, David Holdsworth, said it has ‘serious concerns’ and would urgently investigate whether the charity had ‘provided misleading information to donors and the public’. Rob Wilson, Minister for Civil Society, also said the allegations were ‘extremely worrying’. Specialist forensic accountants who analysed the documents on behalf of the Mail said it was ‘crystal clear’ that ‘virtually nothing’ raised in the UK by the foundation has been spent on charitable activities. The revelations will also be a serious embarrassment to the UN, which praises the foundation on its website and made Drogba — who enjoys iconic status across Africa — one of its Goodwill Ambassadors in 2007. The UN has also vowed to investigate the claims.

Source: DailyMail