Government pays over $900,000 in salary arrears to Black Stars coaches
The government of Ghana has cleared $904,561.31 in outstanding salary arrears owed to both current and former coaches of the senior national football team, the Black Stars.
The payments, authorised by the Ministry for Sports and Recreation under Minister Kofi Iddie Adams, mark a significant move towards restoring trust and professionalism within the country’s football administration.
The coaches, who were appointed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), had gone unpaid for extended periods, with some arrears dating back as far as 2022.
The Ministry in a statement copied to Graphic Sports said the payments followed a rigorous audit and coordination process involving various agencies to verify claims and authorise disbursement.
Among the recipients is former Black Stars Head Coach C.K. Akonnor, who received $120,000, while Chris Hughton was paid $68,904.11 for his service between January 1 and January 23, 2024, including his signing fee. Former assistant coaches George Boateng and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani received $20,833.34 and $12,500 respectively. David Duncan was paid $40,000 for February 2023, and Maxwell Konadu received $30,000 in arrears dating back to November 2022.
Payments were also made to the current technical team, with Head Coach Otto Addo receiving $180,000 and $240,000 in two separate tranches for salary arrears between October 2024 and March 2025.
His assistants, Joseph Laumann and John Paintsil, were paid $75,000 and $64,864.86 respectively, while Goalkeepers’ Coach Abdul Fatawu Dauda received $19,459.44. Team Coordinator Francis Bugri Tampuli was paid $33,000 for services rendered from April 2024 to March 2025.
Minister Kofi Iddie Adams described the clearance of the arrears as a critical milestone. “This payment is not just about settling debts but about restoring dignity and building a professional culture in Ghana sports,” he said.
He added that the Ministry is working towards the establishment of a National Sports Fund to ensure timely and consistent payments to national team staff in the future.
