World Cup 2014: Ghana sends $3m cash to players in Brazil
Ghana’s government has sent over $3m (£1.8m) in cash by plane to Brazil to pay the appearance fees owed to the national team players at the World Cup.
Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yamin told Ghanaian radio station Citi FM: “The players insisted that they will want physical cash.
“The government had to mobilise the money and a chartered flight to Brazil. The money is in excess of $3m.”
Ghana must beat Portugal on Thursday for a chance of staying in the cup.
A draw or a defeat would mean elimination from tournament, while even a win would not be enough to put Ghana through to the knockout phase if Group G rivals United States and Germany were to draw their match.
Earlier in the week, there were rumours the Black Stars could boycott training ahead of the game if their demand for payment was not met.
As unrest grew in the Ghana camp, Ghana President John Dramani Mahama personally assured the players that they would receive their money.
A statement from the Ghana Football Association said: “The government is pre-financing the payment of the Black Stars appearance fees which will be reimbursed when Fifa’s prize money for Ghana’s participation in the World Cup is paid after the tournament in Brazil.”
