The Minister for Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah, has revealed that Black Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah, has been paid $150,000 as signing-on fee in the interim, out of the total $250,000.
He pointed out that Coach Appiah had a contractual agreement with Al Khartoum SC, the Sudanese club he left midstream and that part of his signing-on fee would be used to offset the debt he owed the club.
The Minister further disclosed that the Stars coach and his technical staff would be paid their salaries as soon as the board of the Ghana National Petroleum Authority (GNPC) was put in place and funds are released by GNPC to the Ministry.
Making the disclosure in an exclusive interview with the Graphic Sports last Tuesday at his office in Accra, Mr Asiamah stated unequivocally that the technical staff of the Black Stars would all receive their salaries in due course.
“The board of GNPC is now in place and they will meet to discuss the Black Stars and advance some money to us. We are also looking at GNPC dealing with the ministry and the Black Stars and no longer the FA,” he said .
He explained that the sponsorship money from GNPC would now be used support all sporting federations, including football.
Mr Asiamah added that the FA’s claim of making losses in recent international friendlies was normal as the priority was for Kwasi Appiah to know the Stars players and get the best out of them.
Touching on the recent inability of the Black Bombers to participate in the World Championship qualifiers, Mr Asiamah insisted that the right things must be done. He explained that the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF) failed to put their act together with regard to accountability in order to get the financial nod from the ministry.
The minister stated that his outfit would ensure accountability to the last pesewa, even if it was a few dollars, and assured that all sporting associations would be treated equally.
