Ghana Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah says all his call-ups are based on merit, insisting no Black Stars player can bribe his way into the national team set-up.

Appiah was given a second shot at the Black Stars managerial job following Avram Grant’s resignation in February 2017. ?However, the former Al Khartoum boss has sometimes come in for criticism for his selection criteria into the Ghana squad.

While some believe Appiah is too soft, others have also claimed that majority of the Black Stars players make it into the national team by bribing members of the technical team.

The 57-year-old, though, has strongly rejected both claims, insisting no player can bribe his way into the national team. ?According to him, he is already rich, making it almost impossible for any Black Stars player to even dare approaching him with a bribe.

Appiah told Todaygh: “You can’t even try it because I’m rich in my own way. When they say somebody is rich, it does not mean you have money to look after the whole Ghana but you’re called a rich man because you have your peace of mind. You can have whatever you want at any given time without nobody’s help, that’s how you are considered rich.”

?“If I have let’s say GHC 1,000 and I know that’s enough to take care of my family, I’m content with it so why should I try to seek for more from people, but it’s like people know my character so they don’t approach me with such talks.”

He went on to warn his assistants to desist from taking anything from players in order to help secure them a place in the national team. Appiah added that he will not hesitate to fire any of his assistants caught engaging in such unacceptable dealings. ?

“People may have the thinking that they can go and talk to my assistants in regards to giving their clients call ups, but I always tell my assistants that if any of them allow himself to be induced by any agent and I hear about it, I’ll have no option than to sack you that very day because if you allow yourself to be used by players agents before handing him a call up, what control would you have over the player?”