”Mahama Ordered My Sacking From Black Stars In 2014”- Kwesi Appiah

Kwesi Appiah has revealed that his sacking in 2014 was politically motivated with former Ghana President, John Mahama, playing a huge role.

Appiah wrote in his book “Leaders Don’t Have To Yell” that John Mahama asked former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi to sack him after they returned from the World Cup in Brazil.

Ghana endured a disgraceful appearance on and off the field. The team picked just a point from three games while the country was subjected to international ridicule after money was airlifted to pay the players.

”… Kwesi Nyantakyi called me to his office that and informed me that he had been asked by the president of the nation (John Mahama) to relieve me of my duties.

When decisions about the national team staffing became heavily politicised, it was very clear to me that the political machine was flexing its muscles to make me a scapegoat.

”The Minister for Youth and Sports, who should bear the ultimate responsibility for the money issue that was at the heart of the Brazil problem, was reassigned to another job in the President’s office but I was rather fired.”

The book, launched last Friday, has nuggets the coach considers key for leadership in general, not just for football specifically. Appiah came back to the team as head coach for a second stint between 2017 and 2019.