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04.10.2020 Football News

Black Stars: Jerome Otchere Slams Sports Ministry For Not Treating CK Akonnor Fairly

Jerome OtchereJerome Otchere
04.10.2020 LISTEN

Editor of Kotoko Express, Jerome Otchere, has slammed the Youth and Sports Ministry for their unfair treatment on Black Stars coach Charles Akonnor.

Akonnor, who was named as a replacement of Kwesi Appiah in January 2020 was awarded a $25,000 as monthly salary.

However, according to media reports, the 45-year-old is yet to receive his first payment as the coach of the Ghana national team.

Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah, in an interview with Adom TV, revealed that the Sports Ministry are in negotiation with the former Asante Kotoko coach to take a pay cut due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I have told the coach to accept a salary cut in the COVID-19 period before we pay him…we cannot give him a full salary in this COVID era, so we are waiting for a response from the FA,” the Minister said.

In response, Otchere believes that he has not been treated fairly.

“He has not been paid for nine months yet he has been asked to take a pay cut by the ministry. I think it is not fair to CK Akonnor. My position is simple. If we think the COVID has affected our finances so much that we do not pay CK Akonnor, the heads must also slash their salaries so that we know that it is leadership by example,” he told Hans Mensah Andoh on the Joy Sports Link, Saturday.

He also revealed his sadness at the ‘disrespectful’ comments made by the former Vice Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Joseph Ade Coker on Akonnor’s salary and competence.

“Joseph Ade Coker said that he [CK Akonnor] is not a world-class coach. That for me is demeaning. No world-class coach will take the amount of money he’s taking. Herve Renard is reported to be taking $80,000 or so a month from Morocco.

"Maybe he qualifies to be described as a world-class coach. If this was coming from normal football street fan, this would have been allowed but coming from a former Vice Chairman of the FA, it is disrespectful.”

Akonnor will take charge of his first games this month since his appointment.

The Black Stars have lined up friendlies with Mali and Qatar as part of preparations for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations double-header qualifier against Sudan.

Akonnor is deputized by David Duncan.

Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah
Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah

Sports JournalistPage: SamuelEkowAmoasiAppiah

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