Foot Africa Asante Kotoko Summoned To Pay Full Year Salary To Sacked Coach Maxwell Konadu

Asante Kotoko have been asked to pay sacked coach Maxwell Konadu a full year’s salary plus other outstandings totalling approximately $41,100.

Konadu was entering the final of his two-year contract when the Nana Yaw Amponsah-led management relieved him of his duties.

The Porcupines, in their slow start to the 2020/21 season, were beaten 1-0 in their fourth match in the Ghana Premier League at home by Great Olympics. This result cost the trainer his job on Thursday, December 17, 2020.

On March 4, 2021, Konadu petitioned the Ghana Football Association Player Status Committee claiming that Kotoko unilaterally breached his contract which was expected to end on December 8, 2021 without just cause.

Kotoko, in their termination letter to the coach, cited his “inability to exhibit a high level of performance which will prepare the team to the height it deserves to be” as grounds – something the coach considered illegality.

Konadu went on to notify the club of demand for lawful entitlement and compensation on February 9 and received a response 15 days later in which Kotoko justified their sack action. And they offered the coach three months’ salary ($3,000) in lieu of notice. Included in the response was an admission to pay the balance of his signing-on fee (GHS30,000) as well as two match-winning bonuses. The offered amounts came up to GHS80,500 which Konadu rejected.

The coach went on to petition the GFA seeking to be paid $36,000 being salaries due from January to December 2021; a declaration of entitlement to a qualification bonus for eliminating FC Nouadhibou in the Caf Champions League; his outstanding GHS30,000 signing on fees; GHS2,000 two-match winning bonuses; $60,000 in general damages or compensation for unilateral breach of contract and other costs which were not indicated.

In its decision, the GFA PSC stated:

“… The Committee finds the coach’s termination hasty, premature and without just cause. Therefore it does not fall within the employment contract clause 11.4 which indicates termination of the coach’s contract without any compensation and without prior notice…”,

The PSC, however, granted coach Maxwell Konadu partial reliefs. The ruling stated:

1. The head coach is entitled to the payment of $36,000 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis. This being salaries due him from January to December 2021. This represents the residual part of his salaries due to the unjust termination.


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