President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwasi Nyantakyi has dismissed suggestions that each of the Black Stars Management Committee members received $82,500 as appearance fees and explained that the honorarium for management is not only shared by the Management Committee of the Black Stars but by all people the emergency committee deems to have played a part in the success of the team both within and outside the GFA including officials at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and others.

Kwasi Nyantakyi who made this clarification on the second day of his appearance at the Commission explained that strictly, the money given to Management is different from the Appearance Fees given to players and technical team, explaining that it is the reason why the money is lumped up and signed by only one official who then hands it over to be distributed to all who are deemed fit to receive a share, unlike the players and technical team where each member signs and receives what is due them directly by the Ministry.

“The management does not include everyone working at the secretariat, but those who have played direct roles in the success of the team. The honorarium cuts across all the national teams from Black Stars to the Under 17 both male and female, and it is the same practice. The reference to the number seven (7) is just a coefficient used to multiply the money. People who are management are not limited to the management committee, and that is why the Budget says Management.

With management, it is a lump sum, and the amount is determined by multiplying the fee by a coefficient and that is why only one person signs. The reason why it is clear that this money is different from the players appearance fee is that with the players, each player signs and receives his money while this is a lump sum given out to be shared.

This has been the practice, indeed in 2010 we were called to EOCO to answer the same questions, and it is from there that the current operational arrangements came up. Before 2010 only the secretary signed for it but when we went to EOCO they raised issues about why there was no authority from the executive committee and that is why I now had to authorize the payment,” he said.

Kwasi Nyantakyi corroborated what former Minister of Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who was in charge of the drafting of the Budget said when he earlier appeared at the Commission, that the monies given to the management was a lump sum which was shared by over 20 people as the practice has been since 2006.

“When we go to a tournament, we don’t go with a management committee. Mr. Fred Crentsil was there, but he wasn’t a member of the management committee, he was there as the vice president of the GFA. The state knew that the money was not only only the management committee.

2010 and 2006, I wasn’t part of Management Committee, but I was head of delegation. “

He took the opportunity to explain how the Management Honorariums came about.

“In 2006 the FA made a representation to government. That government review the various categories of performers with the view of reviewing the compensation process because we thought that Management also played a role and brought to bear certain competencies that enhanced the team and also helped the team succeed. This argument found favor with the then government. It found expression in the various approvals communicated to the ministry of finance

When players take appearance fees, is called management honorarium. The understanding is that if it is called bonus, then it would be thought they are taking part of the game. All payments made to management is called management honorarium in recognition of the services rendered. This does not refer to the Management Committee but the whole management team which includes the committee, the secretariat and any other person who is deemed to have played a role,” he said.