Kofi Adams Clarifies Otto Addo Salary Issue

Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has moved to clear the air over reports suggesting that Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has gone nine months without pay, insisting the claims do not reflect the full picture.

Recent speculation had alleged that the 50-year-old trainer was yet to receive his salary for several months. However, Adams explained that while some outstanding payments exist, the situation is far from what has been reported.

Speaking in an interview with Citi Sports, the Minister admitted that arrears are owed to a number of national team coaches but stressed that efforts are underway to introduce a more reliable payment structure.

“That’s true, we owed a number of the coaches, and we are looking for a structured system for payment of the coaches. In the past, before I became minister, some of these coaches, especially the coach, the expatriate coaches of the women’s national team, were paid from the sponsorship fund that goes to the FA,” Adams said.

He noted that the responsibility for salaries has since been transferred fully to the government, with the Ministry of Finance now overseeing approvals and disbursements.

“That has since changed now, all that has been offloaded onto government, and so we have submitted the details. The finance minister has since approved the payments, and the payments, even per the contract, are supposed to be in arrears.”

Addressing Otto Addo’s specific case, Adams explained that the Black Stars coach’s contract provides for half of his annual salary to be paid in advance.

“For the head coach, we pay him 50% ahead of time.
So, at the beginning of the year, 50% of his salary was paid ahead. So, what he is owed is actually 50%, not the full salary.”

He further clarified that payments resumed after March, following a public announcement on the settlement of arrears for national team coaches.

“So, we paid after March and also paid him 50% of the 12-month salary that is due him. So, what you now owe him is post-March 50% of salary because you would have paid the other 50% for January, February, and March. So, you now owe him only 50% of the remaining months.”

The Minister’s explanation aims to settle concerns around the Black Stars coach’s remuneration, as the government continues efforts to streamline payments and avoid future delays.