Ghana FA Technical Director Francis Oti Akenten has been drawn into the growing debate involving payments of bonuses for the victorious Black Queens after they won gold at the All Africa Games.
With the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Queens management committee not agreeing on how much should be paid the team, the GFA Technical Director has been forced to speak.
Key among the discussions have been claims that it was he who negotiated the bonuses of the Black Queens. But in an interview on Asempa FM’s Sports Night on Thursday, Oti Akenten clarified his role.
“I was only a massenger who conveyed information from the ministry to the FA. l attended the meetings but I never knew how much was to be paid.”
“It was information [I passed on and] not negotiations. l can’t negotiate for bonuses. l don’t have the mandate to negotiate,” he added
STORY OF UNFULFILLED PAYMENTS
According to the Black Queens Management Committee, the players and officials are EACH due a total of $23,000, with the following breakdown.
In May, long before the All Africa Games football tournament started this, the Queens had beaten Egypt home (3-0) and drew away (1-1) in a Rio 2016 Olympic qualifier. The $6,000 qualification reward for that was never paid for.
Then came a home-and-away victory over Zimbabwe in an All Africa Games qualifer. That $6,000 qualification reward was also never paid for.
During the All Africa Games proper, the bonuses owed them from the group stage to the final – which they won – add up to $11,000.
All this is known by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who had approved this arrangement months ago, according to reports.
