Discussions on SPC going well – Pres Simeon-Okraku

The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, says discussions with the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) on Standard Player Contracts (SPC) for professional footballers in the country is going well.

According to him, there have been meetings with the PFAG on strategies and protocols to improve the living conditions of professional footballers in the country.

This follows the decision of the Executive Council to introduce standard player contracts in the three top tier Leagues in Ghana.

Speaking at the dinner with the Legends, Mr Okraku said “The PFAG seeks the welfare of footballers and as a Football Association, it’s so important for us to be interested in the welfare of players,” he said.

“It’s not every player that would become Prince Tagoe, Odartey Lamptey or John Mensah. Greater percentage of players who have represented our country at various levels do not enjoy the kind of life they will usually want to.”

“A lot more of them are challenged, a case in point was the late Abu Imoro, a player who represented our true colours. What happened to Abu Imoro can happen to anybody so when we have an Association that seeks the welfare of players, it is imperative that the GFA should be interested in the activities of that welfare body that seeks the welfare of players; this is important.”

“So, one of the key things that we have been discussing, has been the establishment of the standard player contract,” he said.

He said he was committed to the players’ cause and was hopeful the standard player contact that would ultimately protect every signatory (players) to those contacts would be introduced.

A Standard Player Contract (SPC) typically is negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement between a professional sports league and its players.

Mr Okraku said he has also had discussions with the PFAG regarding the smooth implementation of the policy a minimum wage for professional players in the country.

“This policy will go through the internal process and God willing next season, we should introduce minimum player salaries for professional players in Ghana.” –GFA