“In fact, I was deciding on diverting the amount [on the cheque] to pay off some the monies we owe the Black Queens so when Grant later returns to demand for the money, we tell him we were yet to get the money for him in dollars but he was lucky to have sent someone to take the cheque just about time we were holding the meeting. My deputy and other members resolved we give it to him [and end the episode] – Sports Minister Edward Nii Lante Vanderpuije.
Black Stars coach Avram Grant Monday, finally reneged his stance of not accepting his winning bonus paid to him in local currency for Ghana’s 3-1 Nations Cup qualifying victory over Mozambique last month.
The Israeli trainer noticed a change of currency on a cheque handed him last week and sent it back to the Ministry of Sports demanding that it be signed in dollars, as has been since his arrival.
However, Grant’s request was not accepted as the Ministry informed him it was a new measure being implemented by new Sports Minister Edward Nii Lante Vanderpuije.
The Sports Minister has revealed that Grant, after initially abandoning his winning bonus cheque with the Ministry’s accountant has finally picked it.
“The coach is paid in two folds – his salary which is catered for by GNPC in dollars and winning bonuses paid by us [Sports Ministry]. We don’t spend dollars in Ghana; it is cedis we deal with. We cannot go and convert into another currency for him…
“He rejected it [cedi cheque] but yesterday, I was informed by my accountant that he [Grant] had sent someone to come for the cheque. I even told them to make him sign a note on that to avoid any unforeseen troubles.” Vanderpuije said in an interview with Montie FM Tuesday.
The Minister also revealed that Grant’s decision to take up the cheque in cedis was timely as he and his management were contemplating on transferring the amount for the use of the unpaid Black Queens team.
“In fact, I was deciding on diverting the amount [on the cheque] to pay off some the monies we owe the Black Queens so when Grant later returns to demand for the money, we tell him we were yet to get the money for him in dollars but he was lucky to have sent someone to take the cheque just about time we were holding the meeting. My deputy and other members resolved we give it to him [and end the episode], he stated.
According to sources, the entire Black Stars contingent worthy of a bonus for the Mozambique game received the cedi equivalent of the $10,000 standard bonus.
Avram Grant earns twice the amount Black Stars players receive as winning bonus.