Ghana President John Mahama has promised a GHø1.7 million to the Black Stars 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 winning squads. Yes it is good but I wont start commendations and twiddle my waste over this because it is one of the over a million documented pledges from the past and present Presidents, Minister of states and even football administrators. On Monday October 5th 1998, the ex stars led by Nana Agyeman Gyau, a member of the 1993 squad, were promised GHø30million by president Jerry John Rawlings. The heroes returned from the castle with smiling faces and full of promises but little did they know that the castle wine and presidential handshakes were their reward. On Friday 22 January 2000, the then Vice President JE Attah Mills (MHRIP) together with Sports Minister ET Mensah on delivering President Rawlings speech before the opening ceremony of the Ghana/Nigeria CAN 2000 said the government has allocated an amount of GHø 360 million for the ex stars who had won the Afcon for Ghana. Little was known that the 20 seats allocated to the Old players at the stadium before the Ghana-Cameroon opener was just it. Wednesday, 8 November 2000, Speaking as the guest of honour at the first Convention for Retired Footballers at the Accra Stadium, Prof. Mills then vice president pledged a GHø180million and other incentives for the ex stars the government had readily made available. Nii Borketey Kofi Kpetenhu II, the chief of Kpetenhu and MD for Heaven Bridge Industries brewers of Obuade Gin Bitters donated four cartons of their products and GHø1 million to the old stars to be used as transportation back to their various destinations. The retired old men drunk the gin bitters expecting the cash that never arrived. Edward Acquah of blessed memory was at the meeting. On October 8th 2006, Ex President Kuffuor received a delegation of 24 ex Blak Stars players at the Castle. The delegation was led by Sam Acquah, A member of the 1965 Black Stars squad that won the Cup of Nations in Tunisia. The president instructed a committee to be set up to solicit funds for the neglected squad. In Accra on May 11, during the inauguration of Retired Ex Fotballers Association (RENFAG), ex President Kufuor announced a 500-million cedi seed money to set up a Welfare Fund to assist retired sportsmen. He said there was also an on-going programme for the establishment of a Hall of Fame to honour the sports men and women. President Kufuor recalled the Golden Age of Ghana Football, which spanned the 1960s and 1970s that the achievement was characterized by discipline, hard training, dedication and patriotism. In attendance were The then Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu (MHSRIP), NSC head Prince Oduro-Mensah and was chaired by Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports. Where is the hall of fame? where was the GHø500million seed money when Edward Sputinik Acquah and Emmanuel Quarshie died of poverty-related ailments? On October 2009, Ex President Mills in receiving the the glorious Ghana U-20 side that won the World Cup in Egypt, pledged a $60,000 seed money for the retired stars who were in attendance together with other diplomats. The seed is yet to germinate. On Monday, 30 December 2013, The Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah stated that the governemnt has made available an undisclosed amount to compensate ex-Black Stars whose rewards of houses after Africa Nations Cup victories have since been reneged on by the nation. .....Theses and soo many other promises and pledges that have all passed under the Korle and Awoshie bridge. So what is new here? Dont trust the Ghanaian politician with pledges. Theyre good at it. Until I see the Heroes with their cash in hand and smiling on TV, I wont believe because even a cheque will bounce. In Ghana, when the party is over, it is over. More reasons why you cannot begrudge the current stars who go by the Cash and Carry.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 15:27:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015