Black Queens’ unpaid bonuses deepen Sports Ministry welfare crisis – Minority caucus demands accountability

Ranking Member of Parliament’s Committee on Youth and Sports, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has demanded accountability from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation over what he describes as serious failures in the welfare of Ghanaian athletes. His concerns follow reports from members of Ghana’s contingent to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, alongside complaints from the Black Queens over outstanding bonuses, unpaid per diems and inadequate welfare support. Assafuah said the reports point to “a troubling pattern of administrative failure, financial uncertainty and disregard for the welfare of Ghanaian athletes by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the government.” Ghana’s contingent reportedly faced problems with airline tickets, with some tickets issued late, without luggage allowance or allegedly becoming difficult to locate.

Some athletes and officials were reportedly forced to abandon scheduled flights or find alternative transport by train or bus. The MP also raised concerns over competition kits, saying some arrived only after athletes had completed their events. Others allegedly had to seek private sponsorship or personally arrange equipment needed to represent Ghana.

He said athletes also travelled without being told how much they would receive as per diems or medal bonuses. “Team Ghana departed without being informed of the amount of per diem or medal bonuses they would receive,” he said. Assafuah further questioned the welfare arrangements for athletes competing in outdoor events, noting that raincoats were allegedly not provided despite Glasgow’s predictable weather conditions.

He also raised questions about the number and deployment of officials accompanying the contingent. Reports, he said, suggested that about 90 per cent of officials were accommodated at the Moxy Hotel, while athletes stayed in other hotels without adequate supervision and support. The MP described the reported treatment of a para athlete as particularly disturbing, who was checked out of his hotel shortly after competing, allegedly without receiving his per diem.

The athlete was reportedly taken to the airport at 5:55 a.m. “If established, this treatment would constitute an unacceptable disregard for the dignity and welfare of an athlete who had sacrificed to represent Ghana,” Assafuah said. The concerns have now extended to the Black Queens, who…

The Ranking Member of Parliament for the Committee on Youth and Sports, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has demanded answers from the government over what he describes as disturbing reports of welfare failures involving Ghana’s contingent at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In a statement issued on Thursday, the MP said reports from members of Team Ghana, coupled with complaints from the Black Queens, pointed to “a troubling pattern of administrative failure, financial uncertainty and disregard for the welfare of Ghanaian athletes by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the government.” He said some athletes reportedly received airline tickets late, with some tickets having no luggage allowance and others being untraceable. “Some athletes and officials were allegedly compelled to abandon scheduled flights, return home or find alternative transportation by train or bus,” he said.