Goran Stevanovicââ¬â¢s contract as coach of the Black Stars is safe despite strained diplomatic relations between Ghana and Serbia.
The Government of Ghanaââ¬â¢s decision to recognize breakaway Kosovo as an independent state appears to have infuriated Serbia.
As a result, the Serbs have closed down their Honourary Consul in Ghana and have asked same of the Ghanaian Embassy in Serbia.
The move will clearly have an effect on the economic activities between the two countries; sparking fears it could lead to the immediate termination of one visible Serbian activity in Ghana â⬓ the Black Stars coach.
But Ghanaââ¬â¢s Foreign Affairs Minister Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni has assured Goran Stevanovicââ¬â¢s contract with the Ghana FA remains safe relative to the simmering tension between the two countries.
ââ¬ÅThe fact that we have closed our mission in Belgrade doesnââ¬â¢t mean we have severed diplomatic relations with Serbia,â⬠Mumuni said.
ââ¬ÅThey (Serbia) have closed down their Honourary Consulate here in Accra and our Ambassador is presently here in Accra and we have decided that we are closing that mission (Ghana Embassy in Serbia).
ââ¬ÅNo (with respect to Black Stars coach) those are private contracts and even the fact that we have closed our mission in Belgrade does not amount to severing diplomatic relations with Serbia and therefore does not affect the Black Stars coach.
ââ¬ÅWe still have a diplomatic relationship with Serbia, just that it has been downgraded.ââ¬
The Ghana FA meanwhile will announce the fate of Stevanovic in a weekââ¬â¢s time.
The Serbian trainerââ¬â¢s rein as Black Stars coach is under intense scrutiny following Ghanaââ¬â¢s disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.