Indebtedness to national coaches: Appiah paid GH¢593,000

Former Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah will be smiling all the way to the bank following the settlement of all outstanding payment due him during his second spell as the senior national team's head coach.

The Graphic Sports understands that last week the Ministry of Youth and Sports transferred to his account a total of GH¢593,000 — representing the three-month salary arrears owed him.

The ministry also made good on its promise to pay the current Black Stars head coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor, and his assistant, David Duncan, part of their salary arrears, with Akonnor reportedly paid GH¢593,000 as salary arrears for five months.

Last week the ministry ensured that all outstanding issues with Appiah were settled almost 15 months after the GFA refused to renew his $35,000-a-month job after his two-year contract expired.

The coach, through his solicitors, battled the ministry over the settlement of his three-month salary arrears and the terms of payment.

Rejection of cedis

The payment of the salary arrears was initially held back after Appiah is said to have rejected payment in cedis and insisted on being paid in dollars per his employment contract with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), but after further negotiations, the former coach softened his stance on the terms of payment and accepted to be paid the cedi equivalent of his outstanding salary of $105,000.

For Coach Akonnor and his assistant, there was massive relief last week when they were paid five months of their salary arrears as they have been working virtually on empty stomach all these 15 months after they were engaged.

Akonnor’s payment

A source at the ministry disclosed to the Graphic Sports that Akonnor's account was credited with GH¢593,000, with his assistant receiving an undisclosed amount of money after working many months without receiving remuneration.

In fact, Akonnor and his assistant had received just three months of their salaries since they were employed in January 2020, but the minister worked hard to ensure they provided some relief to the two coaches who are still owed six months accumulated salary.

A sourced explained to the Graphic Sports that upon hearing of the indebtedness to the coaches, Mr Ussif worked hard to secure the release of funds by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), who are one of the key sponsors of the Black Stars and also responsible for the payment of the salary of the Black Stars coaches.

In recent months there has been a delay in the release of funds for the ministry to fulfil its commitments to the national team coaches, including settling the outstanding debt to Appiah.

The Graphic Sports could not ascertain how much was credited to the account of assistant Black Starts coach David Duncan who is reportedly on a $10,000-a-month salary.