$15,000 winning bonus; Black Stars deserve more – GNPC Boss

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Alex Mould says the $15,000 winning bonus promised to the Black Stars ahead of Tuesday’s crucial world cup qualifier against Egypt, is simply to regonise the mileage the team has given the Corporation.

According to Mr. Alex Mould, the money means nothing to the players.

Concerns have been raised about the amount of money promised each player should the team beat Egypt and qualify for an historic third straight appearance at the world cup to be staged in Brazil next year June.

Many are of the view that the $15,000 winning bonus is too much and represents unbriddled ostentation in the face dire liquidity challenges facing the nation.

On a list of 24 countries, Ghana appears to pay the highest amount as winning bonus to its players.

Below are the comparisons with other country across the world.

Germany – $2,500, Egypt -$3,500, Brazil – $7,000, England -$6,800, Argentina – $9,000, Holland – $4,100, Ivory Coast – $8,500, Senegal – $8,000, Spain – $6,000, Uruguay – $9,000, Zambia – $2,500, Togo – $2,000, Burkina Faso – $4,000, Algeria – $6,300, Cameroon – $5,500, Nigeria – $5000, Sweden – $7,700, Japan – $6,000, Ethiopia – $2,000, Belgium – $9000, France -$5500, USA – $7000, Mexico – $7,800, Ghana – $15,000.

The offer made by Ghana to its players has therefore been condemned as unncessary and insensitive.

But speaking Tuesday on Asempa FM’s Morning Sports Programme at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi where the Black Stars are lodging, CEO of the GNPC, which is paying the money, said the amount was pea nuts to the players.

What mattered, he said, was the support that the nation will give the players to motivate them to deliver good results, but not the money.

“Everything achieved so far will amount to nothing if we do not put in the last gasp effort to ensure we qualify; it is not the money that will motivate the guys; it is the support the nation gives them that will motivate them to deliver for the country”.

He said the GNPC was not only interested in the mileage it gets in sponsoring the Black Stars but the overwhelming unity a win will bring to the nation, adding, “the visibility the Stars have given the GNPC is incredible”.

Mr. Mould hinted of GNPC’s plans to pursue other marketing strategies with the officials of the Ghana Football Association to ensure there is mutual benefits for both the Corporation and the national team.