Lt. Gen. Obed Boamah Akwah (Rtd) with the Black Challenge team
Ghana’s National Amputee Football Team, the Black Challenge, have made a passionate appeal for the government to pay their bonuses.
Despite winning the first Para African Games and progressing to the quarter-final of the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations, the team has yet to receive their bonuses and support, causing unrest in the camp, currently in Cairo for the Amputee AFCON.
The team’s plight was highlighted during a visit from Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt, Lt. Gen. Obed Boamah Akwah (Rtd), who showed his support and solidarity with the team ahead of their quarter-final clash against Tanzania.
The Ambassador, representing President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo, urged the team to focus on winning the final match, emphasizing the significance of their victory for the nation.
Captain Richard Arthur Opentil expressed gratitude to the Ambassador but raised concerns about the team’s conditions.
“Despite winning two trophies for Ghana, we are yet to be adequately compensated. This lack of support from the government has affected our motivation and our ability to perform at our best for Ghana,” he lamented.
The players cited the example of the Angolan team, which received envelopes with cash incentives, while they didn’t even have water to share.
“We are disappointed in the government,” Opentil said. “But we are motivated and work to honor the President of the NPC Ghana and the African Paralympic Committee, Mr. Samson Deen, as he has provided all our needs with the support of the Amputee Football chairman, Mr. Foster Kwarteng.”
The Ambassador made a cash donation of $1000 to the team which pleased the players, but they remain hopeful of receiving more support as they try to defend thei
