Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye
Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye wants Parliament to fix the winning bonus for the Black Stars after describing the existing payment structure as senseless.
The tough-talking former journalist is expected to meet with players in Accra ahead of this month’s qualifier against Mozambique to announce the decision to revive the bonuses.
He claims the ministry is cash-strapped and cannot continue to pay the fixed US$ 10,000 winning bonus irrespective of the competition.
“I would want us to sit down and give them the reality on the ground and then we can all decide what is fitting, what is noble and what is sustainable,” Vanderpuye said a meeting with the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana (SWAG).
“I don’t think it’s right, you pay $10,000 at the World cup then you pay $10,000 at African Cup qualifiers series, $10,000 in World Cup qualifying series.”
He added: “It doesn’t make sense, it is never done anywhere, I have never heard it anywhere and if you consider the fact that the whole World, Ghana is paying one of the highest bonuses not even England, Germany, even America. I don’t want us to go to a level whereby Ghana will go the Nigeria way, where bonus of the national team will be sent to the parliament to fix.
“I want to give respect to the national team players, majority of them are my children, some of them are my friends, some of them I nurtured. I want to talk to them like a father. I am sure that they will appreciate our condition.”
