By Patrick Akoto
There is growing disquiet among players of the Black Stars after authorities failed to pay their winning bonuses for beating Rwanda in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with fears the emerging trend could spark apathy in the team.
The players are reportedly seething with rage of the repeated failed promises made by the Ghanaian authorities in recent times with claims of lack of respect rearing its head in the brewing episode.
The Black Stars only received their winning bonuses of $10,000 each, less than 24-hours before the crucial tie against the Amavubi in Kigali last Saturday, two months after thrashing Mauritius 7-1 in Accra.
The figure became a silent ugly stand-off between the players and officials after deputy Sports Minister Vincent Oppong Asamoah made a sensation U-turn after publicly revealing the amount was to be slashed to $5,000.
The comment highlighted the confusion in the sports ministry as substantive Sports Minister Dr Mustapha Ahmed rubbished the claims of his second-in-command.
In what appears to be the real financial difficulties facing the nation, the players were told in plain language that the government could not pay the $10,000 winning bonuses for beating Rwanda due to the economic difficulties confronting the West Africans.
There are fears the emerging trend could destabilize the team and return the country to the dark days of how bonus-row disrupted team cohesion and unity.
Coach Avram Grant and his backroom staff have still been unpaid for masterminding the 7-1 mauling of Mauritius amid a reported uneasiness among the technical team as they haggle over their cash.
The cash-strapped country is in a serious financial quagmire - a situation which has brought the payment of $10,000 as winning bonuses under the microscope in the West African country.
Ghana is under serious financial stress which has been riddled with perceived corruption and naked thievery in all sectors of the economy.
Spain-based Mubarak Wakaso curled an 85th minute free kick to hand the Black Stars a precious 1-0 win in Kigali.