While other African nations are giving respectable sums of money as prize winnings for league winners, AshGold’s CEO is wondering why Ghana’s offering is so meagre.
The team he led to the championship crown last season have been told to expect a cheque of 50 000 GHS ($13 000) for the grueling campaign. Clearly disappointed, Kudjoe Fianoo described the amount in near-derogatory terms.
“Well I can say that the money is just a drop in the ocean, Kotoko were given 65 000 last season and we were given 50 000,” he told Kessben FM in Kumasi.
“I can’t say it’s enough because considering what goes into winning the league, it’s just a drop in the ocean but we pride ourselves in being champions of the league.”
Pride may well be the only currency AshGold can be content with, considering this is their first title in 19 years. But the local populace have ripped into the Premier League Board, the Ghana League Clubs Association and the Ghana FA for not doing enough to persuade corporations to pay more to financially-exhausted teams.
On their part, league organisers argue that the current harsh economic climate makes it difficult to approach sponsors to give out huge amounts. And so, the debate goes on.