Ghana players at the 2014 World Cup have shockingly not been paid their appearance fees and other promised enticements by government despite their diligent efforts at the tournament in Brazil.
Several promises of when the monies will be paid to the players two weeks ago have not been fulfilled and this had led to serious disaffection in camp which threatens Ghana’s match against Portugal on Thursday.
This is the first time in the history of Ghana’s participation in the World Cup that appearance fees and other promises have not been fulfilled to players while other players of other countries have resorted to threats of boycotting games.
Ghana’s impressive performance at past World Cups have been strongly linked with the prompt fulfillment of promises made to the players.
The current Ghana government have however failed to make good on several promises made to the players which is being linked to the inconsistent performance of the team so far in the 2014 World Cup.
The Ghana government was supposed to hand out the promised $75,000 to each player before the tournament commenced in Brazil.
But three weeks on and after two games in the tournament, the players are still owed these monies ahead of their crucial final group game against Portugal on Thursday.
The Black Stars players are getting increasingly agitated after several failed promises from government officials on when the money will be paid.
The Sports Ministry have missed several payments scheduled which they laid out themselves to the players.
The non-payment of the appearance fees now threatens to derail Ghana’s final push for a qualification slot from Group G of the World Cup.
The Black Stars are scheduled to leave their team base in Maceio for Brasilia – where the match against Portugal will be played – on Tuesday, a day ahead of normal schedule.
Rumours are rife that some of the players have started agitating but captain Asamoah Gyan has tried his best to keep the players at bay.
Some of the players have however reached their limits and could transfer these frustrations to the other players to wreck the Ghana camp ahead of the crucial game on Thursday.
Ghana was looking to make their participation at the 2014 World Cup their best ever but these failed promises couples with other factors are now threatening to scupper this dream.
