Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has gone 13 months without receiving his salary, Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has revealed.
The Swedish tactician, who is currently serving as acting head coach of the Black Stars, is among several national team coaches owed months of unpaid salaries by the state.
Speaking before Parliament’s Select Committee on Youth and Sports, Okraku called for dedicated revenue streams to support the Sports Fund, arguing that sustainable funding is necessary to ensure timely payments and meet the financial demands of managing Ghana’s national teams.
“The coach of the Black Queens, today is the acting coach of the Black Stars, has not been paid for 13 months. 13 months. The coach of our Olympic team has not been paid for 12 months. And the list can go on and on on on and on,” he said.
Okraku stressed that the financial burden extends beyond the head coaches, with the GFA responsible for supporting technical teams across several national sides and football disciplines.
He listed the various national teams, from the U-15, U-17, U-20 and U-23 sides to the senior men’s and women’s teams, as well as beach soccer and futsal, as areas requiring sustained financial commitment.
“That’s why when I spoke about a sports fund, I said it’s a good thing, but we need more dedicated revenue streams coming in to the sports front because football is heavily capital intensive,” he added.
The GFA President believes a more reliable funding structure would help address salary arrears and provide the financial stability needed to manage the country’s national teams effectively.
