Akonnor was appointed head coach in 2020 after the Ghana Football Association chose not to renew Kwesi Appiah’s contract following the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt. He served for 21 months, during which his outstanding salary was paid in installments. The latest payment cleared the remaining $120,000 owed to him.

Assistant coach David Duncan also received his full $40,000 salary arrears, bringing closure to the ministry’s financial obligations to the coaching duo.

Akonnor was dismissed following Ghana’s 1-0 loss to South Africa in the second Group G match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. At that point, Ghana was third in the group with three points from two games, behind South Africa and Ethiopia.

Ghana eventually qualified for the World Cup under Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac, who was appointed after Akonnor’s departure.

The former Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak coach was named as Kwesi Appiah’s successor in 2020 on a two-year deal with a monthly salary of $25,000.

However, after a poor run of results, Akonnor was sacked after losing to South Africa in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He was shown the exit with four months remaining on his agreement, entitling him to a total of $100,000 in unpaid wages.

According to Graphic Sports, Akonnor was also owed $175,000 for seven months prior to his dismissal, bringing the total outstanding amount to $275,000.

“I am aware Milovan Rajevac who took over from Coach Akonnor but was sacked after his disastrous campaign at the last AFCON was paid all his entitlements before leaving the country.

“How can we be so cruel to our own people? It is not as if the coach is begging for some money but he is only demanding what is due him but look at how he is being treated.

“I don’t think it is fair and the authorities must intervene to avoid any future embarrassment,” the source bemoaned.

Graphic Sports also claimed David Duncan, who served as an assistant to Akonnor, is owed approximately $10,000 in monthly salary for a duration of four months, in addition to other benefits. These outstanding payments raise concerns about the payment practices within the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Since Akonnor’s departure, the Black Stars have experienced multiple coaching changes, with Milovan Rajevac and Otto Addo assuming the role before Chris Hughton took over as the current coach.

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Duncan was confirmed as the new trainer for the side ahead of the start of the just-ended 2022/23 season.

However, the former Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak trainer was shown the exit after just four months at the club due to unimpressive performance.

Umar Rabbi was named as the interim coach but was also sacked and was replaced by Evans Adotey who has led the side to win the Premier League title.

Speaking on the reason for Duncan’s appointment, Moses Parker disclosed that they needed a trainer with the experience to lead the side.

“The appointment of David Duncan was a good one because Umar Rabbi was inexperienced. He [Umari Rabbi] is our own and we wanted to build him but it got to a point he was not allowing Duncan to work so we had to make a decision on allowing David Duncan to leave the club,” he told Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show.

Medeama were crowned champions of the season following a 3-0 win over Tamale City at Akoon Park on Sunday.

The Yellow and Mavue will present Ghana in the CAF Champions League next season.

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The former Black Stars assistant coach was named as the new boss for the Yellow and Mauve on a one-year deal on September 2, 2022, before the start of the ongoing season.

However, Duncan has struggled to improve the side.

After nine matches played, Medeama SC sit on the 13th position with 11 points. However, Duncan only supervised five games.

A club statement read: “Medeama Sporting Club and Head Coach David Duncan today parted company on mutual ground.

“On behalf of everyone at Medeama SC, the Club would like to place on record its gratitude to David Duncan for his efforts during his time with the club and wish him well in his future endeavour.”

Duncan’s return to the Ghana Premier League was his first job after he was sacked by Asante Kotoko in 2016.

Duncan is a former coach of AshantiGold SC, Great Olympics, and Hearts of Oak as well as outside the country with South African side, Free State Stars.

Meanwhile, assistant coach, Umar Rabi is expected to take charge of upcoming games before a new coach is appointed.

Rabi took over the leadership role at the club after Ignatius Osei-Fosu was sacked last year.

Medeama SC will return to action on Sunday, January 1, when they host Accra Lions at Akoon Park in the matchday 10 of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League.

Duncan will be assisted by Umar Rabi who assumed leadership of the technical team following the exit of Ignatius Osei-Fosu last year.

The former Black Stars assistant coach is returning to the Ghanaian top-flight for the first time since leaving Asante Kotoko in 2016.

Duncan has proved himself to be one of the most exciting coaches in Ghana and will add a lot of impetus to the team.

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David Duncan has previously coached Sekondi Hasaacas,  Accra Great Olympics, Ashantigold S.C, Asante Kotoko, and Hearts of Oak. Outside Ghana, David Duncan coached South African PSL side, Free State Stars.

Medeama will on Sunday, September 11, 2022, begin their 2022/23 Ghana Premier campaign against Legon Cities at the Tema El-Wak Sports Stadium at 3:00 pm.

The club after finishing second last season has set sights on clinching the ultimate GPL title and a flying start on Sunday would set the tone for the much envisaged historic moment.

He is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Tarkwa-based side.

The former Hearts of Oak head trainer has not coached in the local topflight since he was sacked by Asante Kotoko in 2016.

However, ahead of the 2022/23 betPawa Ghana Premier League, Duncan is set to take over the club as the new gaffer.

Medeama SC began last season with Ignatius Osei-Fosu who replaced Yaw Preko but was sacked after five games with the assistant coach taking over.

Having finished 2nd with 56 points last season, the Yellow and Mauve side will be hoping to improve their performance and challenge for the Premier League title under David Duncan.

Duncan remains one of the brilliant and experienced coaches in the local scene, having coached AshantiGold SC, Great Olympics, and  Sekondi Hasaacas as well.

The 58-year-old trainer has also coached South African giants, Free State Stars.

Duncan was appointed the Coach of the Ghana U-17 in 2004 and led the side to win silver at the 2005 African Under-17 Championship in the Gambia.

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Duncan, however, returned to national team duties where he took the Ghana U-23, The Black Meteors, coaching duties in 2011. He was tasked to qualify the team for the London Olympics but they were knocked out by Sudan 2–1 on aggregate in the qualifiers.

In January 2020, Duncan was appointed as the assistant coach of the Ghana national football team, the Black Stars, deputizing the previous assistant coach Charles K. Akonnor who had replaced James Kwesi Appiah.

However, Duncan and his boss, Akonnor were sacked by the Ghana Football Association after the country’s shaky start to the 2022 World Cup.

With the Ghana Premier League set to kick off this weekend, Duncan is expected to be in the dugout.

Medeama SC will open their betPawa Premier League campaign with an away match against Legon Cities at the El-Wak Stadium on Friday.

The Ghana Football Association [GFA], in January this year, appointed coach Akonnor and assistant Duncan to take charge of the team after the departure of Kwesi Appiah.

Coach Akonnor is on a $25,000 monthly salary while Mr Duncan is on $10,000 monthly salary.

However, they have since not been paid.

“I’m sure the Sports Ministry will pay them when there is money but we are always in constant communication with them [Akonnor and Duncan] so they know what the situation is,” Prosper Harrison Addo, who is the General Secretary of the GFA, told Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show.

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Due to the pandemic, coach Akonnor had to wait until last month to handle his first matches against Mali and Qatar.

Black Stars lost 3-0 to Mali but thrashed Asian champions 5-1.

However, coach Akonnnor will be hoping to start on a good note when he plays Sudan on Thursday, November 12 at the Cape Coast Stadium in the 2021 African Cup of Nations [Afcon] qualifiers.

Mr Duncan, who is assistant to Head Coach Charles Akonnnor, has become one of the most experienced technical heads in the country and has handled most of the big clubs in Ghana including Accra Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko and Ashantigold. 

With this expertise, Mr Duncan is deemed as an all-round tactician who can handle the national team.

“I am happy he has David Duncan with him. He is all rounded as he understands the technical aspect of the game and he has played too,” he told Nhyira FM.

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“I even feel David Duncan should have been the head coach but it is fine he is assistant.”

Duncan in February 2020 assumed his new role as deputy to C.K. Akonnor in the new Black Stars technical team. 

The 56-year-old handled Free State Stars in South Africa from 2008 to 2009. 

He has also coached Ghana U17 team, the Black Starlets in 2004-2005 and the Olympic team Black Meteors in 2011 where he lost to Sudan 2-1 on aggregate preventing qualification to the London 2012 Olympic games.

Mr Addo’s comment comes after the Youth and Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah said coach Akonnor will suffer pay cut due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Addo is the General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

“I have told the coach [Akonnor] to accept a salary cut in the COVID-19 period before we pay him,” the Sports Minister told Adom TV on the Fire-for-Fire show.

“The Sports Ministry and the GFA are negotiating that we reduce his salary during these difficult times.

“I know he [CK Akonnor] will agree because we are not in normal times, I will not lie. The truth is that we cannot pay CK Akonnor’s full salary in these difficult times,” he added.

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And according to Mr Addo, the coaches have agreed to the pay cut proposal from the Minister of Youth and Sports.

“The two (CK Akonnor and David Duncan) agreed during the COVID period that they would like to contribute something, so the Ministry of Youth and Sports also embraced it,” he said on Nhyira FM.

“I personally wanted the two coaches to go out there and say it since it was their involvement, willingness to do this so that they would tell the public.

“I am of the view that some of these things are best left to the people involved,” he concluded.

Coach Akonnor and his deputy are yet to receive their monthly salaries since their appointment in January.