The Communications director for the Ghana Football Association, Ibrahim Sannie Daara has rejected comments by Majority in Parliament which claimed the country spent up to $70,000 per month on former coach Avram Grant.
Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu last month during a submission at the floor of Parliament bemoaned the country’s growing penchant for foreign coaches who in the end fail to achieve laurels for the country.
The long-serving lawmaker had admonished Ghana begins to look at giving chance to indigenes as had been in time past.
But speaking in an interview with Starr Sports, the Ghana FA spokesperson said the MP for Suame got his facts wrong.
“The other day I heard the Majority Leader in Parliament, he looks to be eloquent and knowledgeable in football but let me correct it, perhaps maybe given the opportunity to appear before parliament to even set the records straight.
“He got some of his figures wrong and some of his facts wrong. He said we even paid up to $70,000, he suggested. One, the man [Avram Grant] mostly did not spend his time here so we won’t pay that much for his accommodation…” Sannie Daara said.
The Ghana FA also denied that Grant took $50,000 as his monthly take home salary. The former Chelsea boss was paid through the sponsorship with the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC).
Read in full, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu’s comments on the floor of Parliament February 24:
“We need to rely on such quality materials to be able to reinvent our Black Stars.”
“They [foreign coaches] are disintegrating our national teams.”
“If you have to step out and look for football coaches, look for the up and coming ones. At the time that Bukhard Ziesse was managing Ghana, we had Clemence Westerhoof in Nigeria and he was receiving $5,000 and he took them to their first World Cup.
“He [Westerhoof] was succeeded by Jo Bonfrere who took them to Olympics and won gold but Ghana had just four years earlier won bronze and Jo Bonfrere was given $4,500.
“When [Valery] Nepomiachi took Cameroon to the World Cup and theyshone, he was given $3,500.
“We are paying $70,000 but little results. This comprised of $50,000 cash and housing, as well providing vehicles [for Avram Grant]
“Let’s look out for the upcoming ones who are hungry to achieve things for themselves because you pay $50,000 and you don’t attain any results and you’re happy with it.”
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