Court threat over Akwasi Appiah’s monthly salary

Akwesi Appiah, Black Star Coach A public interest lawyer, Mr. Sam Pee Yalley, has threatened to sue the Ghana Football Association (GFA) if it varies the salary of Mr. Akwasi Appiah, the newly-appointed coach of the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars.

Quoting the labour act of 2003, Act 651, Mr. Yalley noted that every worker should receive equal pay for equal work, without distinction of any kind.

He warned that any attempt by the FA to coerce Mr. James Akwasi Appiah to settle on a salary that is far lower than what was being paid to Goran Stevanovic, his predecessor, would be unlawful.

Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle in Accra yesterday, Mr. Yalley said: 'I want to hope that the FA Chairman, being a lawyer himself, will respect and uphold Section 68 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) of Ghana, which states that “Every worker shall receive equal pay for equal work, without distinction of any kind.'

'Akwasi Appiah has been appointed as a coach of the Black Stars with all rights and responsibilities. Any attempt to coerce him to settle on any emoluments lower than his predecessors will be unlawful, and may also mean that the FA must have deliberately over priced the salary and other conditions for expatriate coaches for dishonourable reasons.'

Goran Stevanovic, who was fired a couple of weeks ago for failing to lead the Black Stars to win the Confederation of African Football tournament, hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, was being paid 30,000 Euros per month, in addition to other fringe benefits.

After public agitations, the GFA has now decided to settle on a local coach, by naming Akwasi Appiah as the new substantive coach on Monday. The newly-appointed manager is one of the respected footballers Ghana has ever produced.

During his playing days, hardly would one see Mr. Appiah indulging in any insolent behaviour. During CAN 1992, hosted by Senegal, Appiah was the captain of the Black Stars until the position was controversially taken away from him.

Despite this obvious bad treatment, the former Kotoko captain never protested. His slide tackles are yet to be equaled by any player in the current generation.

The President of the GFA, Mr. Kwasi Nyantekyi, has, meanwhile, given the assurance that his outfit would give the new indigenous coach full support for him to succeed.

Mr. Nyantekyi, however, told Joy FM that Mr. Appiah would have to negotiate for his own conditions of service. As to whether the FA would accept it if he also demands 30,000 Euros as salary, is a big question Ghanaians are waiting for the FA to answer.