Abeiku Quansah, a member of the Black Satellites team that won the 2009 World Cup in Egypt, has become the latest member of the squad to decry the amount accrued from the 15-year investment made on their behalf by the government of Ghana.
Abeiku Quansah told Glorious Sports Today that the return on their investment is disappointing considering the period.
He noted that while the initial capital of GH₵10,000 could have been enough to get something significant in 2009, the return on their 15-year investment means that the amount has decreased in value.
He bemoaned that the players were promised that by the time the investment matured, they would be able to build properties with the money, but the amount given to them could not enable them to put up any property in any of the country’s major cities.
“The amount we got is far lower than what was promised. You can’t even buy land in Accra with that money. Maybe you can buy land in my village, but you can’t build any property with that money. The money we got was GH₵77,000, and when you look at the amount that was invested and what we got now, there was no significant benefit from it.
“If it was some private savings that we did with that amount, we would have had much bigger returns than we got. It is very sad that this is all we could get. They should have honored their promise so that the younger generation would be motivated. It is unfortunate, and it is a good example for the young ones coming,” he said.
Another member of the team who has expressed dissatisfaction with the amount is goalkeeper Daniel Agyei, who has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene.
Speaking on GHOne TV, the former shot-stopper appealed to President John Mahama, who was the Vice President at the time, to step in and help resolve the matter.
“So, I think the best way is for the state to help us. At that time, President John Dramani Mahama was the Vice President. So, I want to plead on behalf of all of us for him to intervene and help us achieve what we’re supposed to after these 15 years,” he said.
Agyei further revealed that while some people have suggested they hire lawyers to address the issue, many players lack the financial means to do so.
“Something can change because it was not an individual investment. It was corporate and done for all of us. We talked to two or three big men, and they told us to get a lawyer. But most of us don’t have the money to hire one because it was the state that made this investment for us,” he added.
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