Stevanovic contract safe despite Ghana-Serbia diplomatic rift

Published on: 29 February 2012

Goran Stevanovic’s contract as coach of the Black Stars is safe despite strained diplomatic relations between Ghana and Serbia.

The Government of Ghana’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 – the Black Stars coach.

But Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni has assured Goran Stevanovic’s contract with the Ghana FA remains safe relative to the simmering tension between the two countries.

“The fact that we have closed our mission in Belgrade doesn’t mean we have severed diplomatic relations with Serbia,” Mumuni said.

“They (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).

“No (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.

“We still have a diplomatic relationship with Serbia, just that it has been downgraded.”

The Ghana FA meanwhile will announce the fate of Stevanovic in a week’s time.

The Serbian trainer’s rein as Black Stars coach is under intense scrutiny following Ghana’s disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

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