Sports ministry: Appiah was lucky not to be sacked!

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday May 16, 2020. 13:00

Ghana’s sports ministry has hit back at former Black Stars coach James Kwesi Appiah, stating that he was lucky not to be fired from his post.

Appiah, who tenure in charge of the national team came to an end when his contract lapsed in December 2019, is complaining that he is owed salary and bonuses by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Yet Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson Kofi Asare Brako believes the former coach is ungrateful and lucky that his time in charge of the Black Stars didn’t end in further ignominy.

“Kwesi Appiah is ungrateful to report GFA to FIFA. He should know that when you report GFA you have reported Ghana to FIFA,” Asare Brako told Nhyira FM, as quoted by Goal.

“FIFA will inquire about the contract document between the two parties and will make a judgement base on your achievement in the contract.

“He failed to perform his four mandates tasked to him in the contract but was not fired. He should have even thanked the GFA and the Sports Ministry for that.”

Appiah has threatened possible court or FIFA action should his outstanding money be delayed further.

”Avram Grant [whom Appiah succeeded as Black Stars coach] never reported Ghana to FIFA to have his arrears paid until the ministry settled him,” Asare Brako added.

“What Kwasi Appiah is doing makes him ungrateful to Ghana. He should show gratitude to the GFA and MoYS.”

Under Appiah’s latest tenure, Ghana failed to reach the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2006.