Ghana must raise player salaries to curb talent drain, says Kojo Addae-Mensah

The Chief Executive Officer of Databank Ghana, Kojo Addae-Mensah, has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the various clubs to raise player salaries to stem the growing exodus of talent to other African leagues.

Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based LUV FM, Addae-Mensah compared player wages in Ghana to those in Tanzania and Ethiopia, where he said footballers earn significantly higher salaries.



“I checked in Tanzania; players are earning between $3,000 and $5,000. The highest-paid player there, Stephen Aziz, earns $20,000 a month,” Addae-Mensah said. “In Ethiopia, they’re paid between $2,000 and $3,000. That’s why our players are leaving Ghana to go to Ethiopia.”



The financial disparity, he argued, is a key factor in Ghanaian players seeking opportunities abroad, even in lesser-known leagues across Africa.



Addae-Mensah recommended that Ghana Premier League clubs must adopt a minimum salary structure to improve conditions for local players.



“For a first-season player in the Ghana Premier League, I believe a minimum of $200 per month – which is about 2,000 to 2,500 cedis – is realistic. We can do it,” he added.



His remarks come amid ongoing debate about player welfare and professional standards in the domestic league, as the GFA rolls out a new Standard Player Contract for the 2025/26 season.




By: Pascal Amoah