Trouble Looms Over Ghana League Sponsor

Starr Sports’ investigations have revealed that the Sports Ministry has secured a new lucrative sponsorship deal for the Ghana Premier League from an international oil and gas firm.

The new sponsorship deal is from an Asian petroleum giant, which is ready to seal a four-year contract with the Ghana FA.

According to the conditions of the new sponsorship deal, the Sports Ministry will issue directives on how the GFA disburses the full sum from the deal to the stakeholders – the 16 clubs and the brokerage agency.

The GFA’s brewing feud with the Sports Ministry could also prompt a decision by the nation’s football governing body to reject the deal.

Some top Ghana Premier League clubs are ready to withdraw their participation from the domestic top flight once the GFA refuses the deal.

The GPL has been without a sponsor since November 2015, when Capital Bank withdrew its sponsorship over a restructuring exercise.

Source: Starr FM.

Trouble Looms Over Ghana League Sponsor

Black Stars Bonus Slash Is Disrespectful - Sannie Daara

Ghana FA spokesperson Ibrahim Sannie Daara has labeled the Sports Ministry’s decision to hack the Black Stars winning bonus for the 2017 AFCON as “disrespectful”.

According to Daara, the decision to reduce the proposed amount of GHC 10,000 to GHC8, 000 had never been communicated to the nation’s football governing body, but was rather announced on various radio stations.

The 20% reduction was effected some three months ago and it has been agreed to extend to the final qualifier in September, but Daara believes this modus operandi by Nii Lantey Vanderpuije is rather unfortunate.

“In fact as we speak now the decision has not been communicated to us. We have heard it on radio, the minister saying it on radio. But officially no after two to three months since it was implemented, it is rather unfortunate as managers we were not informed and it is out of the norm”, he told Starr Sports

“We are very unhappy about it, we (GFA) think the talk on radio before even informing us or sometimes not informing us at all is not only counterproductive, but it is actually disrespectful”, he added.

This act by the Sports Ministry has prompted the Ghana FA to request for an emergency meeting with the Sports minister to iron out their differences ahead of future qualifiers.

Source: Starr FM.

Black Stars Bonus Slash Is Disrespectful - Sannie Daara

GFA Accuses Sports Ministry

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has accused the Ministry of Youth and Sports of being the architect of the purported sour relationship between the two institutions.

After several weeks of media reports of bad blood between the country’s first citizens of the sport, they confirmed they are at loggerheads with each other, and the FA believes the Sports Ministry’s decision to go public with the issues instead of approaching them is the cause of the friction.

“We can all say we don’t have a problem with the Sports Minister,” GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi said in an interview with Kessben FM.

“But if issues that can be handled between the two bodies are addressed in public, then clearly he has shown that he has a problem with us.

“If he thinks there are matters that must be addressed, he can invite us for discussion instead of going to the media to address those issues.” He stated.

GFA Accuses Sports Ministry

Dare Me In Court - Nii Lantey Tells GFA

Youth and Sports Minister Nii Lantey Vanderpauye has dared the Ghana Football Association to challenge him in court that government does not own the national teams.

There is a dispute over who owns the national teams after the Sports Ministry wrote to the Ghana Football Association to include them in all contracts and memoranda regarding friendly matches of the Black Stars and all other national teams.

Nii Lantey last month publicly noted his displeasure at the FA for no including his outfit in a friendly involving the Ghana Local Black Stars team and Japan.

The former Sports broadcaster has reiterated that the national teams are for the state and that he hopes that action will not be repeated by the GFA.

“ If any member of the Ghana FA feels otherwise, they can write to me or go to court and say that I am claiming what constitutionally is not my mandate and authority- so they can go to court and restrain me from taking that path,” he told Joy Sports

“I will not hesitate to take the most serious decision in the interest of Ghana football and Ghanaians if that thing happens again, I have got an informal response but it will be better for them to put it on paper so that we can continue a very healthy relationship.

He added that “Once this thing happened and I have got a member of the GFA executive committee to say oh Honourable sorry it was an oversight and that it will not happen again, I have taken it in good faith because I respect the opinion of that person and I know it will not happen again.

“We are suppose to work together in the interest of Ghana Football and  I wouldn’t want to go on a path of any strange relationship with anybody- I would want to be respected and I would respect everybody.”

Dare Me In Court - Nii Lantey Tells GFA

Ministry To Reduce Taxes On Clubs

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is considering reducing the tax clubs pay for using the national facilities to host their matches.

Premier League Clubs lose about forty percent of gate proceeds to the National Sports Authority (NSA), and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after league matches.

The Sports Ministry, according to Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, will consider the percentage charged as they bid to help grow the local game.

“I am keen follower of our game and I have always said that this year’s league seem to give us much more attraction and hope for the future than we’ve seen in the past,” the MP for Odododiodio Constituency said in a meeting with GHALCA Executives.

“Attendance has improved and the quality of the game is also improving. So I thought that was going for us to have a very smooth and interesting league that will be to the benefit of the league clubs and to all of us.

“But all over sudden, this issue of violence has the ability of affecting attendance and also making look a bit untidy.

“It is not easy for anyone to run a club in this country. It is not easy and I wonder how the clubs manage. As such, everything that needs to be done in other for clubs to feel okay, we as a Ministry will all we can to take the burden of the club officials.

“I am negotiating with the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana revenue authority on how to relook at the tax component that are on the tickets for our matches. I think enquity is the order of the day and as such we must look at it constructively.

“If the clubs play and they lose about forty-nine percent of their proceeds to taxes, then we are not helping them to develop the game. We have to thinker with it a bit so that it will give them the freedom to develop our players and develop our teams.” He said.

Ministry To Reduce Taxes On Clubs

We Will Manage Cape Coast Stadium - Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lante Vanderpuye has promised to ensure that the Cape Coast Stadium is well maintained.

Ghana’s national stadia in Accra, Kumasi Tamale and Essipong, which were constructed for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, have been left to deteriorate.

President John Dramani Mahama, who commissioned the Cape Coast multipurpose edifice on Tuesday, charged the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Authority not to allow the facility deteriorate.

And Nii Lante, has promised to ensure that the facility is well catered for.

“I know Ghanaians will be worried this day when we are commissioning this stadium because of the way the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Authority have allowed the earlier ones in Kumasi, Accra, Essipong, and Tamale to deteriorate.

“I stand here today to assure the whole country and in doing so, we are not only going to manage this facility well, but we will fix all the others that have gone bad,” he said.

We Will Manage Cape Coast Stadium - Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Photos: IPPR Hands Over Cape Coast Stadium

China IPPR International, contractors of the Cape Coast sports stadium, officially handed over the edifice to the Sports Ministry on Friday.

The multi-purpose edifice which was completed last year, will be commissioned on May 3 after officials handed keys and other documents to the Sports Minister, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije at the  Sports Ministry.

The 15,000 capacity multi-million edifice has 22-room hostel facility, a canteen, kitchen, firefighting room, storage room and many others. 

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The stadium is also a multi-purpose one with two basketball fields, a hand ball court, a tennis court and an indoor facility that can be used to host indoor games.

Photos: IPPR Hands Over Cape Coast Stadium

Avram Yet To Receive Bonus

Sports crusader can confirm that Black Stars head coach Avram Grant is yet to receive his bonus for leading the Black Stars to victory over Comoros.

Ghana defeated Comoros 2-0 on aggregate to cruise to the next round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Ministry of Ghana were unable to pay bonuses due the playing body and the technical team.

The bonuses were settled prior to the team’s Afcon 2017 twin qualifier against Mozambique, but Avram Grant is yet to receive his.

It is unclear why the Israeli’s money was not paid.

Avram Yet To Receive Bonus

Avram Grant Rejected Ghana Cedis...

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is yet to pay Black Stars coach Avram Grant, his winning bonus for leading the team to beat Comoros.

The former Chelsea manager led the senior national team to the second phase of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with 2-0 aggregate victory over Comoros in Kumasi.

The Sports Ministry was unable to pay the team their winning bonuses due to financial difficulties.

They paid the playing and some members of the technical team, their bonuses prior to the 2017 Africa Cup of nations qualifier against Mozambique, but Grant did not receive his.

According to sportscrusader.com sources, Grant rejected his bonus when it was presented to him in local currency (Ghana Cedis).

The Israeli trainer insisted on receiving his money in United States dollars, but the sports ministry refused to adhere to his request.

Avram Grant Rejected Ghana Cedis...

GFA To Meet Sports Minister

Some members of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) will meet the Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije today to discuss various issues bothering.

Members of the football governing body, were denied bonuses after Black Stars victory over Mozambique last week.

The meeting is expected to find solutions to some of the disagreements over certain policies and directives since the new minister took over at the ministry.

It would be recalled that the Sports Minister told management of the senior national team to convince him to pay them bonuses after the victory over Mozambique.

Some officials wants the Executive Committee members of the association to respect the sports minister’s decision, but others will meet and explained why they deserve they deserve bonuses.

GFA To Meet Sports Minister

Convince Me To Pay You Bonuses - Sports Minister To GFA

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been told by Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije they will no more receive bonuses.

Executive Committee members of the football governing body in the country, are paid bonuses after Black Stars matches.

But Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, a former boxing promoter and former president of the Weightlifting Federation of Ghana, has told them (GFA) he won’t pay any bonuses to any official of the FA until he’s convinced beyond every reasonable doubt.

“The payment of bonuses to management will have to stop. Apart from players and officials, any other person in the FA should come and convince me why we should pay bonuses to them,” the former sports commentator told Accra-based radio station, Happy FM.

“I have seen that from 2006 till date bonuses have been given to officials including Ministers. There must be a change. I don’t think it is right. It doesn’t make sense to be working for government and the people of Ghana and get paid bonuses.

“If my predecessors used to pay winning bonuses to the management committee of the Black Stars, I am the new man in charge, so they need to convince me on the need to pay them.

“I will do what I think is right and if for that matter they would have problems with me, so be it, he said.

Meanwhile the winning bonus of the playing body of the Black Stars for the last Thursday’s victory against Mozambique was cut down from $10,000 to $8,000, though the Sports Minister refused to confirm the figure the players were given.

Convince Me To Pay You Bonuses - Sports Minister To GFA

Sports Minister Brands Ghanasoccernet.com An Anti-football Development Site

Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije has branded Ghanaian sports website, Ghanasoccernet.com an anti-football development site.

Ghanasoccernet.com, is a website much noted for criticizing heads of the various associations in football.

According to Hon. Vanderpuije, the website, owned by Communication Director of the Ghana Football Association, Ibrahim Saani Daara, is an anti-football development website.

The former sports broadcaster alleged that since he was appointed Sports Minister to replace Dr. Mustapha Ahmed in February, writers have written articles in an attempt to break him down, but he has promised them that the articles will only make him stronger and that he will respond to them at the appropriate time.

“Who owns Ghanasoccernet or whatever their name is?” Mr Vanderpuije quizzed in an interview with Accra-based radio station, Happy FM.

“Do they want the best for Ghana football? Since the time I was appointed until the time the Black Stars played Mozambique, they have written articles and features about me,” he said.

“They think writing such articles and features will break me down. I can also write, I can talk… all the things they are doing, I can do same and even better so their write ups can not break me and can never break me. It will rather make me stronger,” he boosted.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuje Said he won’t run away from any fight and promised to give them a response at the appropriate.

“I don’t run away from fights, they should continue with whatever they are doing,” he promised.

“But they can only do that at Ghanasoccernet. I will give them a response at the appropriate time. My response will be on a much bigger platform,” he stated.

Sports Minister Brands Ghanasoccernet.com An Anti-football Development Site

I Will Not Determine Bonuse For National Teams -Sports Minister

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuije says he will not interfere with issues of bonuses for sports federations in the country.

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation sports commentator said the ministry is cash-trapped and federations under the sector must engage with corporate bodies for sponsorship to supplement whatever the ministry will give them.

“I have for the past being saying that I don’t and I will not determine issues of bonuses for sports in this country; I am referring to only footballers, the boxers will have to get bonus, the Black Maidens, the people who are competing in the Judo and everyone will have to get bonuses.

“Every sector deserve bonuses, if we don’t have the money, what do we do? So my policy is that we say it as it is; all of us must sit down as a family, discuss it with all the sports federations and ask ourselves how we can share what we have,” Nii Lantey told SWAG members last Monday.

“If federation will need more than what is given to them, then they have to go looking for the money from corporate sponsorship and other activities to support.

“We cannot tell which sporting discipline will be giving Ghana gold at the Olympics. It could be swimming, judo, it could even happen that our 100m runner goes to the Olympics and all the favourites gets muscle pull and he wins the gold.

“So it should not be within our power to determine which sporting discipline should should supported and which one should not be supported.” He said.

I Will Not Determine Bonuse For National Teams -Sports Minister

Parliament Must Fix Bonuses For National Teams - Sports Minister

Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, the Minister of Youth and Sports, wants the parliament of Ghana to fix a specific amount as bonuses for players of the national team.

According to Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, the current mode of bonus payment is senseless and he intends to have an open discussion with sports federation.

“I would want us to sit down and give them the reality on the ground and then we can all decide what is fitting, what is noble and what is sustainable,” Vanderpuye said a meeting with the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana.

“I don’t think it’s right, you pay $10,000 at the World cup then you pay $10,000 at African Cup qualifiers series, $10,000 in World Cup qualifying series.”

He added: “It doesn’t make sense, it is never done anywhere, I have never heard it anywhere and if you consider the fact that the whole World, Ghana is paying one of the highest bonuses not even England, Germany, even America. I don’t want us to go to a level whereby Ghana will go the Nigeria way, where bonus of the national team will be sent to the parliament to fix.

“I want to give respect to the national team players, majority of them are my children, some of them are my friends, some of them I nurtured. I want to talk to them like a father. I am sure that they will appreciate our condition.” he stated.

Parliament Must Fix Bonuses For National Teams - Sports Minister

Sports Ministry Is Broke - Nii Lantey

Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije has said that the finances available at the Ministry is inadequate.

The Youth and Sports Ministry were given GHc 22m for the year 2016 by the Parliament of Ghana.

But Hon. Vanderpuije says this money is not enough to meet the demands of all sectors under it.

“The Sports Ministry is broke. I am saying this because tomorrow (in future) someone will come and accuse me of not saying it as it is when I assumed office so you may think that I am giving excuses,” the former sports broadcaster/journalist said in a meeting with the Sports Writers Association of Ghana.

“I need the support of the media in order to let people appreciate these difficulties. The total budget of the ministry is GHc 22m, but out of that, GHc 11m is for compensation –  salaries of workers not only at the Ministries, but all the agencies under us  – the Sports College, the Youth sectors and the National Sports Authority.

“GHc 4m is for goods and services,  so what is left to undertake all sports programmes for the year is only GHc 7m.

“The budget for all national teams alone is about GHc 42m. We will need about GHc 26m for our Olympics team to be able to go to Rio. How do we manage?” He quizzed.

Nii Lantey said it will require prudence and ingenuity to be able to meet the requirements of all the sporting associations in the country.

Sports Ministry Is Broke - Nii Lantey

Grant Was Employed To Work In Ghana - Sports Minister

Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye, Minister of Youth and Sports, has mentioned that he will ensure Black Stars coach, Avram Grant spends adequate time in Ghana and not outside the country.

The former Chelsea boss has been out of the country since he arrived with the Black Stars from the African Cup of Nations Cup (AFCON 2015) and the long stay in England and his punditry duties whilst the Ghana Premier League was just two-weeks old got football fans questioning his commitment to the development of the game in Ghana.

Nii Vanderpuiye, who was recently confirmed as the new minister has cautioned the Israeli to stay in Ghana and work, else he will be forced to take some drastic decisions.

“We didn’t employ Avram Grant to stay in England. Grant is paid $50,000 to live here and work. May i ask how much is the president of Ghana paid?.”

“I will ensure he stays here to work.” he told Nhyira fm.

Grant is expected to name an 18-man squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifier match against Mozambique at the Accra sports stadium.

Grant Was Employed To Work In Ghana - Sports Minister

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

Nii Lantey Not Knowledgeable Than GFA - Oduro Sarfo

Ghanaian football administrator, Nana Oduro Sarfo has questioned Nii Lantey Vanderpuije’s understanding of football management after the sports minister claim his knowledge of football administration is better than the FA.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who took over the offices of the Sports Ministry on Monday, has sworn to correct wrong practices in the running of the Ghana Football Association.

However, Nana Oduro Sarfo believes the former GBC sports broadcaster is not abreast with the new trends of running football.

“Nii Lantey Vanderpuye was a commentator and the time he was with Liberty Professionals things were not like now. Where did he follow clubs to?” The GHALCA ticketing committee chairman quizzed in an interview with Happy FM.

“He can’t sit behind a computer and fill Transfer Matching System, so if he wants to compare himself to us, then he should come and learn the new ways of football administration.

“I think that his knowledge of current trend of managing football is way below anybody at the GFA,” he said.

Nii Lantey Not Knowledgeable Than GFA - Oduro Sarfo

GFA Not Made Up Of Monsters - Sports Minister

Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuije has said that the people leading Ghana football at the FA are not monsters.

The Ghana Football Association is alleged to be occupied by people who do not work in the interest of Ghana.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, a renowned football commentator and football administrator is believed to be a critic of the GFA and it is understood his reign as the sports minister would put much pressure on the football governing body of Ghana.

NIi Lantey Vanderpuye has publicly made it clear that he would ensure administration at the GFA are corrected to promote the development of football in the country and he would never compromise on that.

“I am one person who will not call the people at the GFA monsters,” the former  GBC sports broadcaster told Happy FM.

“I know they are patriotic citizens who also want to contribute their quota. When I start my job, I know certain things that are not all that well at the GFA, so I will sit down with them in a friendly manner and thrash them out.

“However, if they insist on continuing with them then I would have no other option than to stamp on my authority, because I have been given the power to run sports in Ghana by Ghanaians, hence I would do what they want.” He stated.

GFA Not Made Up Of Monsters - Sports Minister

Pay For Stadia Maintenance - NSA Tells Clubs

The National Sports Authority of Ghana has told clubs to stop complaining about the poor facilities available for league and contribute to the maintenance of the various stadia.

Director of the National Sports Authority, Joe Kpenge, who is tired of the incessant allegations of the NSA renting the facilities for huge sums of l money without maintaining them, told the clubs to stop making unrealistic complains.

Mr. Kpenge also revealed that clubs are aware of the financial difficulties the sports authority is encountering, but keep blaming the NSA for the poor maintenance of the stadia.

“It’s not for the football clubs to just complain, they know we have difficulties and they pretend as if somebody from heaven should come and solve the issues with what resources,” Joe Kpenge told Accra-based radio station, Starr FM.

“If we should be earning from gate proceeds of 10% from matches and even they don’t get GHC 10,000 how can you maintain the pitches with this amount.

“Sometimes I think their complaints are unrealistic because they know the challenges of the Ministry and Authority, so they should also start contributing,”

There are reports that the National Sports Authority intend to sell the national stadiums to private institutions, but the National Sports Authority is not ready to comment on the media reports.

Pay For Stadia Maintenance - NSA Tells Clubs