Personal assistant to the Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Asare Brako has revealed government won’t hurry to finalize the two-year contract for newly-appointed Black Stars coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor.
Akonnor – who was named as Kwasi Appiah’s successor on January 15, 2020 – is currently without a contract as he awaits the Ministry of Sports to finalize their agreement after prolonged but successful negotiations.
Footy-Ghana.com sources indicate the former Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko manager has completed his part by appending his signature to the final draft contract awaiting the Ministry to fulfill their part.
The Ghana Football Association, who are acting as the intermediary for this deal, received signed copy of the contract from the former Black Stars captain about a fortnight ago and forwarded it to the Sports Ministry.
Akonnor has agreed to a two-year contract which comes with six-month probation. He will be on a $25,000 monthly salary and receive a signing on fee of $50,000 if the Ministry get through with their part of the deal.
Both GFA and Akonnor now have to wait for the Ministry of Sports who are not in a haste to complete the deal.
Speaking to Starr FM, Asare Brako – the aide to Hon. Isaac Asiamah – aligned that the Sports Ministry feels it does not make financial sense to get the contract running amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to the suspension of football.
“We are not playing active football and we don’t know when COVID-19 will go so that’s the reason why we are holding on now.
“The coach cannot even work here or travel to work all because of this COVID-19 pandemic. So tie him and the government will go ahead to pay him $25,000 every month when he’s virtually doing nothing. It does not make financial sense,” he explained.
Meanwhile, CK Akonnor has already worked in official capacity as Black Stars coach. A few months ago, he embarked on a tour of Europe and interacted with his players and other potentials for the Ghana national team. He subsequently announced a squad to face Sudan in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before the games got postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak.
