Sports Ministry responsible for Kwasi Appiah’s salary arrears – GFA

The ongoing tussle between the Ghana Football Association and former Ghana coach James Kwasi Appiah looks like it will not end anytime soon after the association revealed that it is not responsible for paying the coach’s salaries.

Kwasi Appiah this week revealed that since leaving his post at the beginning of the year, he has tried in vain to retrieve outstanding salaries and bonuses owed him by the GFA.

The Ghana FA maintains the Ministry of Youth and Sports is responsible for paying Black Stars coaches, and not the FA.

GFA Head of Communications, Henry Twum, told BBC Sport Africa that he believed Appiah was aware of these rules.

“The GFA does not pay the coach – it’s the state that pays the coach,” he said.

“The GFA is the employer of the head coach of the national team but his salary is paid by the state. He wrote to the GFA and we forwarded his letter to the ministry.

“It is the ministry that must pay him, not the GFA.

“Kwesi Appiah has been in and out of the Black Stars for so many years and he knows that it is not the FA that pays him. It’s very strange to read what is going round because it’s not the FA that pays the head coach of Black Stars, it is the Government of Ghana. That has been the constitution. The Government owes him.”

But Appiah remains adamant that his contract was with the GFA and not the Government.

“I did not sign any contract with the Government or the ministries, I signed with the Football Association,” he said.

“I know the Government supports the FA in payments of players’ bonuses and travel funds but I am not supposed to be chasing the Ministry of Sports because I do not have a contract with them but the FA.”.

Appiah concedes he may have to take the case up with Fifa or seek legal action at the court of Arbitration for Sports should the GFA continue to ignore his appeal.

“At the moment it has not come to that. But if they don’t take notice of the second letter, then my lawyers will advise on taking it to Fifa or going to court,” he explained.

The GFA recently received a $500,000 emergency fund from world football’s governing body Fifa. Although Appiah is aware the funds from Fifa are for specified needs, he requires the GFA to pay up with whatever funds they have in their possession.

“Wherever the FA can get the money to pay me, let them do that,” he said.
“I know they have some monies in their accounts from last year up till now. I feel the debts should be settled.”

Kwesi Appiah’s second stint, which lasted two-and-half years, ended in December.

He was replaced by his assistant, Charles Akonnor.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com