CK Akonnor’s $25,000 monthly salary too huge, says Nana Obiri Boahen

The Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Nana Obiri Boahen has expressed shock over the $25,000 monthly salary of Black Stars coach CK Akonnor.

The former Asante Kotoko and Hearts Of Oak was named the Black Stars head coach in January this year in a two-year deal, replacing Kwasi Appiah, whose contract was not renewed after expiring in December 2019.

Akonnor’s predecessor James Kwasi Appiah was on a monthly salary of $35,000.

And, although Akonnor’s monthly salary is about 30 per cent less than what Appiah was receiving, the outspoken politician believes that something must be done about since football administrators are even struggling to maintain their clubs.

“CK Akonnor’s salary is very huge. The $25,000 is too much. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t have money but I feel it’s a big money. Even the total amount of salaries received by players of Asante Kotoko or Hearts may not be up to the $25,000,” Lawyer Obiti Boahen told Hello FM.

“Sometimes we should consider those running clubs in Ghana. How much does Agama of Bechem United and Nana Kwame of Berekum Chelsea get from their respective clubs every month? We need to be very fair looking at where we are coming from.

He continued, “Honestly, speaking that money is a big money. We need people who are bold. We must be bold to call a spade a spade Why are we even quoting his salary in dollars since we are told not to trade in the country in that currency?

“I think they are not being fair to us at all. A good number of people running football in Ghana are suffering, you can ask Grusah. I’m saying that even the likes of Kwame Kyei who have money will tell you how difficult it is to run the football here.

He also said it is against the laws of the land to pay the coach in dollars.

“It’s against the law to pay CK Akonnor in dollars, and secondly when you convert that $25,000 its big money and a good number of coaches will take that money.”

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah has confirmed that Akonnor has verbally agreed to a pay-cut due to the Coronavirus.