Government to pay money to ex-Black Stars players today for failed promises

All is set for retired Black Stars players to be rewarded today after five decades of failed promises by governments and sports officials.

The initiative, engineered by former Youth and Sports chief Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, will see the Ministry of Youth and Sports doling out GH¢1.7m to the Retired National Football Association of Ghana (RENFAG) at a yet-to-be named venue in Accra next week.

A source at the Ministry’s public relations department revealed that the said amount is for 95 players and technical team officials of the gold winning groups of 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982.

The retired players have for several years cried in vain for the financial reward after putting Ghana’s name on a high pedestal on the continent.

Organizations and individuals like businessman Kennedy ‘Cappuccino’ Agyapong, musician Amakye Dede, football administrator Nana Fitz, Youth and Sports Ministry, among others, have supported fundraising ceremonies in honour of members of RENFAG.

Former Sports Minister Afriyie-Ankrah, since assuming that office, led the crusade for rewarding the good works of the retired players.

At a fund-raising ceremony before the World Cup, the ex Sports Minister said, “I will do everything possible to make sure that government rewards you accordingly.”

Some of the retired players – Rev Osei Kofi, Wilberforce Mfum, Alhaji Ibrahim Sunday, Willie Klutse and Dan Owusu, in return, demonstrated love to the former sports chief, by rallying support for him during his interrogation at the Commission of Inquiry in Accra last Wednesday and Thursday