Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), George Afriyie, has revealed that the association once accumulated heavy debts from accommodating Black Stars coaches at the Alisa Hotel, to the extent that the hotel nearly suffered financial strain.
His comments come amid renewed debate over how newly appointed Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz will be housed during his stay in Ghana.
Ahead of Queiroz’s unveiling last week, the GFA confirmed that the Portuguese trainer would be lodged in a hotel, explaining that the official residence for the national team coach, located at Airport City, had been converted into a technical hub due to limited use by previous occupants.
“The official house allocated for the Black Stars coach has been converted into office space…, but for his first time coming to Ghana, he will be accommodated in a hotel,” Sheikh Sienu told Asempa FM’s Sports Nite Show.
However, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Monday, April 27, Afriyie offered a different perspective, pointing to what he described as the financial strain caused by long-term hotel accommodation during the tenure of former GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi.
“In the Kwesi Nyantakyi era, we were crippling the government with Black Stars coach accommodation expenses. To the extent that the GFA almost collapsed Alisa Hotel with debts from the Black Stars coach living at the hotel,” he stated.
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The decision to move away from using the official residence has since sparked public criticism, although Sheikh Sienu has defended it, describing it as a practical step aimed at improving the administration and development of Ghana football.
Meanwhile, Carlos Queiroz is expected to continue staying in a hotel as he settles into his role and begins preparations with the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
