The Black Stars of Ghana’s aim of winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), their first since 1982, may not be achieved if the plan by the Management Committee of the team to earn the same amount of bonus as the players go ahead.
While players have called for a review of bonuses before each major competition, earning the same bonus as the officials may worsen the bonus row and cause disharmony within the squad.
In what has stunned football fans across the country, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) has revealed that the proposed budget for next year’s AFCON (holding South Africa) sees a total amount of $7.7 million earmarked for the tournament with about $1 million from the total cash proposed for a 9-day camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Out of this proposed sum, all the players, members of the technical crew, and interestingly, the four members of the Management Committee that will accompany them to South Africa will earn the same bonus package. These include $17, 500 for the group phase; $20,000 if they reach the next stage; $22,000 for getting into a medal position and $25, 000 for reaching the final. But while players are expected to earn about $100 per day, members of the Management Committee will get $150.
Aside the monies budgeted for the team, GNA has also revealed that airfare for the 50-member contingent will cost $250 000. This is contrary to the regulations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the tournament which states that the football governing body will take care of the air tickets of 30-members of each participating team at the final tournament.
Also, $70 000 has been voted for media relations and $200 000 for protocol while accommodation gets $184, 000. Foodstuff is budgeted to cost $20,000; another $15,000 earmarked for Laundry purposes and $20, 000 for scouting group B opponents DR Congo, Mali and Niger.
Ghana’s minister of sports Clement Kofi Humado and his team are expected to deliberate on the budget proposal submitted by the country’s football association in the next couple of days.
