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Pampered bunch in national colours
News that players of the senior national team, Black Stars, were given US$20,000 each as appearance fee at the just-ended African Cup of Nations (AFCON) continues to ruffle a few feathers.
The Stars were bowled out of the AFCON held in Cameroon, finishing last in Group C with a point. That Ghana lost to minnows Comoros 2-3 in a game they had to win and qualify for the last-16 stage, irritated long-suffering Ghanaians fans the more.
Ghana was expected to break the trophy drought in Cameroon, having gone without the continental coronet since the glory of 1982 in Libya. But a couple of shambolic performances ensured that the Stars produced the nation’s worst output in AFCON history. It was painful and harrowing.
But as Ghanaians were brooding over the ignominious loss, emerge the worrying news that even in their mess; the Stars received US$20,000 each for their presence at the tournament. Such amount splashed on the players and officials for appearing in an AFCON tournament? This is crazy! It is even crazier to think that they did not only come home empty-handed, but with their heads down in chagrin.
Questions are being asked here and there; how was such amount splattered on the Stars when even winners of the tournament – Senegal’s Teranga Lions, walked away with financial rewards and plots of land for their stupendous efforts.
“As testament to our gratitude, and in the name of the nation, the players and other members of the official delegation will each receive a special bonus of 50,000,000 CFA ($87,178), and a 200-square metre plot of land in Dakar,” Senegal Head of State Macky Sall said, in his official address to the players.
“They will each also receive a 500-square metre plot of land in the first district of the new city of Diamniadio (30km from the capital).”
Senegal defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw at the Stade d’Olembe in Yaounde to finally get their hands on the AFCON title after two previous failed attempts in the final.
As someone jokingly said, we would have built skyscrapers for the Ghana players plus a GH¢1m each had they annexed the crown. We have made money the epicentre of everything to the extent that the players do not even see the need to ‘kill themselves’ for the result, aware that irrespective of the upshot, they would still swagger all the way to the bank. That should not be the case.
What at all are we doing to our national team? What kind of seed are we sowing? Are we probably not reaping from the seed we have sown in the past?
The other time (AFCON 2015), we gave players 30 grand Jeep Cherokee vehicles to the Blacks Stars and the management team for placing second, after losing to Cote d’Ivoire during the lottery of penalty shoot-out.
The vehicles – and US$25,000 each, we understood, formed part of the reward Government promised the senior national team for their ‘do well’ performance at the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Each Cherokee vehicle cost $76,000 ($2,280,000) and were supplied by Tannick Automobile, a company located on the Tema motorway. We are told there was no government involvement. But does it really matter? It is still our worship of such run-of-the-mill, garden-variety results.
You see the level of mediocrity in the Black Stars? What would they have offered the team if they had conquered Africa? This is simply unfathomable, to say the least!
By now, our authorities should know that such pampering of the national team players has the propensity to irk the public who want to see some real fight and hard work from them on the pitch. We have got to be very careful not to court further disaffection for the team as we plan to build a more formidable and winsome Black Stars in the years ahead.
PlainTalk with John Vigah
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
