The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has come out swinging after reports emerged that Black Stars head coach CK Akonnor was owed seven months’ salary.
Akonnor signed a two-year $25,000 a month contract to take charge of the Black Stars in January 2020.
Reports emerged in the local media last week that the former Wolfsburg captain had not been paid for up to seven months, causing outrage on social media.
Speaking to Citi Sports, the Sports Minister admitted his office owes the Ghana trainer but says any amount owed Akonnor predates his assumption of office in March 2021 and that he has taken major steps to ensure the salary arrears are cleared.
“Let’s be unclear; the impression should not created as if Akonnor has not been paid anything in the last 7 months,” he said.
“When I took office, Akonnor was already owed several months of salary. So I called him into a meeting and assured him that I would make sure his monthly salary is paid from that point onwards.
“And that is exactly what we have done. We have paid him every single month since I came to office. In fact, we have paid him for seven months even though I have only been in office for 6 months. So I’m also taking steps to clear his arrears.
“Let’s not make it appear as if when I came to office, he has not been paid anything,” the Member of Parliament for Yagaba Kubori Constituency said.
Akonnor is currently with the Black Stars in Cape Coast preparing for the 2022 World Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia on Friday September 3, 2021.
They will fly out to South Africa to face the Bafana Bafana on Monday September 6, 2021.