Grant rejects local currency in bonus payment

Black Stars coach Avram Grant has reportedly rejected a winning bonus paid to him in local curency for Ghana’s 3-1 win over Mozambique in a Nations Cup qualifier two weeks ago.

A source at the Ministry of Youth and Sports disclosed to the Graphic Sports that the coach rejected the bonus because it was in local currency and instead demanded to be paid in dollars which had been the practice in the recent past.

The Israeli coach reportedly returned his cheque to the ministry’s accountant saying he did not have a cedi account. Even though the Chief Director of the ministry explained that the Bank of Ghana only paid in local currency, the coach refused to accept the local currency and returned the cheque.

Following their victory over Mozambique, players of the Black Stars and technical handlers were paid in cedis as part of a directive by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, who said he was only ensuring the implementation of a Bank of Ghana policy.

In negotiating a 20 per cent reduction in bonus of Black Stars players from $10,000 to $8,000, the players agreed to receive their bonus in cedis paid directly into their bank accounts at the prevailing exchange rate.

Per his contract, the Grant receives $50,000 a month in salary and is guaranteed twice the winning bonus paid to the players.