The Ghanaian government has been forced to send a whopping sum of $3 million to the Black Stars who are demanding payment before facing Portugal on Thursday
The government of Ghana had to airlift $3 million cash on Tuesday to settle the appearance fees of irritate Black Stars who almost boycotted their trip to Brasilia to face Portugal in their final group game.
President John Mahama had to intervene swiftly to calm nerves over the appearance fees for the World Cup which has not been paid since the start of the competition.
An official statement from the Ghana FA confirmed the rumpus in camp but assured that “the money will be paid by Wednesday afternoon which has brought some assurance to the Black Stars.”
Ghana’s deputy sports minister Joseph Yamin said officials had no option than to arrive at that decision since the players threatened to derail the World Cup campaign.
The players held up their trip to Brasilia for hours demanding about $100,000 each as “appearance fee” at the global football fiesta before facing beleaguered Portugal on Thursday.
The sports ministry had initially planned to wire the money to the players as the tournament wears on but they had to “come back and mobilise the physical cash to be sent to them. Saturday morning, the money was mobilised but a chartered flight to take the money to Brazil is what has delayed the money up until now.”
Yamin told Accra-based Citi FM that the flight will be in Brazil on Wednesday then the money will be disbursed to the agitated players ahead of their must-win game against Portugal.
He said “government had to contend with getting permits, getting the reliable flight to be able to send this money across, national security vans would have to be policing this money to the airport.”
Yamin said they had no option than to give in to the Black Stars pressure since government did not want to be blamed for a bad campaign in Brazil.
Ghana will play Portugal on Thursday and a convincing win could see them making it to the knockout stage of the competition.
