Nyantakyi defends enhanced financial package for Black Stars

Ghana FA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi has defended the intended $15,000 winning bonus to be given the Black Stars players at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Veteran football administrator Takyi Arhin has earlier lashed at the intended increment in financial rewards of the team for next year’s tournament to be hosted in South Africa.

According to Arhin, the reported $15,000 intended bonus is not consistent with the economic situation of Ghana where even the President earns a far less amount in wages.

But the GFA boss says payment to athletes all over the world falls outside the pay scheme of a nation.

“Monies that sportsmen especially footballers earn falls outside a country’s payment scheme,” he said.

“Footballers earn more than Presidents so it will be wrong on anyone’s part to draw such a comparison.”

Nyantakyi went on to explain the motive behind the intended increment of the financial package for the Black Stars at next year’s AFCON.

“In 2008 when we hosted the Nations Cup, we were paying $10,000,” he adds.

“That figure has seen little increments over subsequent tournaments so it is not as if we are making sharp increment.”

Ghana is drawn in Group B to be based in Port Elizabeth alongside Mali, Niger and DR Congo.

The Black Stars open their Nations Cup campaign on January 20 against Congo DR at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.