Players pay cuts should not be discussed in Ghana - Data Bank CEO

Databank Chief Executive officer (CEO) Kojo Addae-Mensah has argued that players taking a pay cut amid coronavirus crisis shouldn’t be up for discussion in Ghana as the majority of the local-based players struggle to get their allowance.

Football activity in the country has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

With no matchday gate proceeds or merchandise sales due to the citywide lockdowns and the uncertainty of when the league will resume, revenue for local clubs have pummeled.

Players of European heavyweights such as Juventus and Barcelona have led the way by cutting down their wages.

There is a divergent opinion from football connoisseurs on Ghanaian clubs taking the same steps in cutting their players pay to help clubs during the coronavirus outbreak.

But Mr Addae-Mensah, who has the experience of working with Asante Kotoko, insists the decisions taking by top European clubs cannot be copied in Ghana.

“Let’s look at Ghana football and its entirety and not focus only on the Premiership. First division and second division, the players don’t even get their salaries when the football is ongoing so it will be difficult to tell the player that you want to cut down his pay," Mr Addae Mensah told Asempa FM.

“The comparisons with European clubs don’t hold. In Europe, on the income statement, you will find income surplus in the balance sheet of the financial which is not the case in Ghana.

I don’t think a pay cut maybe even up for discussion in our part of the world. But the club’s too can argue that the reason for which I employed you which is to come and play football the reason is nonexistent at the moment so why do I have to pay you."