A Spokesperson for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Kofi Asare Brako, has blamed the failure to pay the outstanding salary of former head coach, Kwesi Appiah on economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic which has caused financial constraint on the ministry.
Appiah is owed $185,000 in salary arrears from his time as Black Stars coach and has been on the neck of the Sports Ministry for his money.
But according to Asare Brako, salaries of coaches have always been paid through sponsorship packages but the case of James Kwesi Appiah not receiving his money is due to the ripple effects of COVID-19.
“The salary of the head coach of the Black stars has always been paid through a sponsorship package, and it is unfortunate this has now dragged into the period of the coronavirus pandemic,” Kofi Asare told BBC Sport Africa.
“We have paid him for the two-year contract period of 24 months. What is left is the extended contract period of eight months, of which we have already paid three months.”
“We are still in touch with the former coach and in no time we will pay him. Soon, all money will be paid to Appiah.”
The 59-year-old coach, who led the Black Stars of Ghana at the 2014 World Cup, has told BBC Sport he is prepared to take his claim to football’s world governing body FIFA if he does not receive his money soon.
“I gave the GFA a three-month deadline (earlier this year) but neither the GFA nor the Sports ministry has met with me,” Appiah said.
Brako has refuted Appiah’s claims stating his outfit is in touch with the former head coach of the Black Stars/
“I can say categorically that the chief accountant of the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been in constant communication with Appiah,” Brako added.
“We are still in talks with him. If we have to structure a payment plan, we will do that but if he insists we have to pay all at once we have no choice but to do it.”
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has not given an exact time frame as to when Appiah’s salary will be paid but Brako assures it will be paid ‘soon’.
Appiah’s contract was not renewed following his team’s disappointing outing at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where the Black Stars exited in the Round of 16.
Ghana was the first team to ever reach four Nations Cup titles but have not won the trophy since 1982.
Background
Former head coach of the Black Stars, James Kwesi Appiah earlier this year stated that he is owed $185,000, most of which cover five months’ unpaid salary.
Appiah’s outstanding payment of $185,000 equates to five times his monthly salary of $35,000 in addition to a $10,000 bonus for beating Sao Tome prior to his contract expiring in December 2019.