Confirmed: Black Stars Owed Winning Bonuses

The vice president of the Ghana Football Association, George Afriyie has confirmed that the government of Ghana is yet to pay Black Stars players their winning bonuses after the World Cup qualifier victory over Comoros.

sportscrusader.com on Friday reported that government has not paid the winning bonuses for  the victory which ensured the national team qualified to the next phase of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

And the earlier report has been confirmed by the Black Stars management committee chairman.

“There are some outstanding winning bonuses owed the Black Stars. The payment from the win over Comoros has not been made,” Mr Afriyie told Accra-based radio station, Citi FM.

The Liberty Professionals chairman went on to hint that the GFA will be patient with the Sports Ministry in order to find a resolution.

“There is a new sports minister in office now. We will give him time to settle and look at the issues and he will address them.” he said.

Confirmed: Black Stars Owed Winning Bonuses

No More Begging Players - Nii Lantey

Sports Minister Designate, Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuije says no national team player will be begged to represent the country if they agitate for bonuses before playing for the national team.

The senior national team of late is always begged by authorities to play for the country but he says under hus administration will not beg any Black Stars player who is not ready to play for the senior national team over issues of winning bonuses.

President John Dramani Mahama had to intervene when the Black Stars refused to play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil due to the delay in the payment of their appearance fee.

But Nii LanteyVanderpuije says no one will beg any player to do a service sacrosanct to the nation.

“Sometimes, you need to let people understand that this country cannot go down on its knees to beg a person to do one service or another,” the former boxing promoter told Starr FM.

The ex-GBC sports journalist also revealed that players were not begged to play the 2000 Africa Cup of nations when there was a rebellion in camp over bonuses.

“In the year 2000, when we co-hosted with Nigeria, just before our first game, I was with Alhaji Jawula, Nana Butler and the GFA people at the Presidency. I was with Professor Mills at that time, then Vice President.

“Then we heard some news that the players had embarked on some rebellion that they were not going to play the match if their allowances are not increased. So, the coach Osam Duodu and the rest were worried.

“We went there in the morning and shouted, who doesn’t want to play? We won’t pay so if you don’t want to play you can leave. We have players, those who want to play should pick up jerseys.

One or two players started picking up shirts and the rest started scrambling for the jerseys.” He revealed.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuije is the 8th sports minister under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration since 2009.

No More Begging Players - Nii Lantey

Appointment Of Sports Ministers Has Been Poor - Kurt Okraku

Chief Executive Officer of newly promoted Ghana Premier League side Dreams Football Club, Kurtz Okraku has said the government of Ghana has always kept square pecks in round holes when it comes to the appointing ministers for the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Khe Sports Ministry has been reshuffled  in the last decade, with the latest to be uprooted from the ‘lions den’ is Dr.Mustapha Ahmed who was relieved off his duties after eight months.

Kurt Okraku believes the constant changes in the sports Ministry is due to lack knowledge of the administrators chosen to lead the body.

“Sports Ministers are appointed by the presidency, my singular opinion is that it’s been poor if it comes to the appointment of Sports Ministers.

“Football is a specialized industry, you need people with the requisite skills and knowledge, when you bring people with no connection to the industry they will fumble. You bring people with no history, connection, love and passion they will come and take kindergarten decisions,” the former Wassaman MD told Radio Ghana.

The Executive Committee member of the Ghana Football Association believes the best man — Nii Lantey Vanderpuje suited for the Sports Ministry has  finally been appointed.

“For the first time, we have a proper sports person being appointed as the Sports Minister, I hope Nii Lante Vanderpuye who is full of passion and enthusiasm will bring his many years of association with the various sports disciplines to bear on the industry,” He said.

Appointment Of Sports Ministers Has Been Poor - Kurt Okraku

Govt Threatens To Withdraw Cash To Subvented Agencies

Government has threatened to withdraw subventions to Subvented Agencies by March 2016 if they fail to submit details of payroll information for migration onto the payroll.

According to Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) ‘the Department wishes to inform these remaining Agencies whose salaries are paid outside the Government of Ghana mechanized payroll system at CAGD that their subventions would cease in March 2016 if they fail to submit details of payroll information for migration onto the payroll’.

This follows a deadline given to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department by Government to complete the migration process by end of March 2016.

Following the inception of the Government’s policy decision to migrate all subvented organizations onto the mechanized payroll, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has, as at December 2015, migrated One Hundred and Twenty (120) organizations.

However twenty of the Subvented Agencies (excluding the Military) are yet to be migrated.

The policy decision is to effectively manage and exercise budgetary control over payroll cost

Govt Threatens To Withdraw Cash To Subvented Agencies