“A Women’s Right Organization, WiLDAF-Ghana has described the non-payment of the winning bonuses of the Black Queens as unfair.
The Communications and Advocacy Manger of the organization, Patricia Isabella Essel told Citi News that it is “simply unfair that what they are due is not been given to them.”
She lamented that the matter should not be associated with gender interpretations because “even if it was done to men it wouldn’t have been the best.”
The senior female national football team members who returned to Ghana last Sunday after winning gold in the All Africa games in Congo are demanding for bonuses before checking out of their hotel in Accra.
“I will say that they should ensure that whatever promises they were given whatever entitlement they are supposed to get, they should be given because they are due it. All those who are responsible must also ensure that the women get what they are due because it’s long overdue,” Isabella Essel added.
In a related development, the National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Otiko Afisa Djaba wants the Minister for Sports, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed sacked if bonuses owed the Black Queens are not paid them in full.
“These young girls could also have refused to play if they didn’t have their bonuses paid to them in Congo but because for their love for mother Ghana they played so well that they won gold for the nation only to come home and be insulted and abused. That is unforgivable,” the NPP’s women’s organiser stated.” READ MORE
“The impasse between the Black Queens and the Ministry of Sports continues as the bonuses owed the Queens remain unpaid.
The drama reached an all- time high when the Queens were refused food at the M-Plaza hotel on Sunday. Matters took a comical twist when it emerged that national team coach Yusif Basigi himself went to the nearby Nima neighbourhood to buy waakye for the hungry Queens.
Prior to this, the Sports Minister in a phone conversation with some key members of the Queens had engaged in an intriguing back-and-forth on the Joy Sports Link on Saturday.
Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, the minister, pleaded with the players to depart the M-Plaza hotel.
Read the transcript of the full conversation between Mustapha Ahmed and three Queens players. The show was hosted by Gary Al-Smith, who sat in for regular host Nathaniel Attoh.” READ MORE
“President John Mahama has ordered the immediate payment of $5,000 each to the Black Queens, who have railed against the refusal of the government to honour them since their return from Congo Brazzaville.
He further promised to meet the team personally on his return from the United States, where he has been attending a gathering of the UN General Assembly.
The ladies won gold on September 18 in a gutsy final win against Cameroon in Brazzaville.
In what has been a very embarrassing week for the government machinery, the senior national women’s team have doggedly refused to accept the $2,000 (for each player) on offer from the sports ministry as winning bonuses for annexing gold at the All Africa Games.
The team had endured poor preparations before the tournament but still managed to put together a title-winning run over several games, beating highly-rated Ivory Coast and Cameroon en route to victory.
The win was historic as it marked the team’s first ever triumph at the All Africa Games, following a silver medal four years ago in Maputo.
The drama, which has played to titillating public interest since the news broke, reached a new low when the Queens were refused food at their M-Plaza Hotel ” READ MORE
“President John Mahama has directed the Finance Ministry to pay off disgruntled members of the Black Queens $5,000 each with immediate effect.
The directive comes on the heels of public uprising to settle the All Africa Games gold medalists, who have failed to vacate their hotel over unpaid bonuses.
President Mahama, who is attending a UN General Assembly in the United States has promised to meet with the heroines on his return.
But as to whether the team will accept the $5,000 remains a question crying for answer taking into account an earlier interview with some of the ladies.
“We won’t take anything less than $10,000, sign an agreement to collect the remainder later before we will leave this place. If you are owing someone $23,000 and you pay $2,000 is it not an insult?” One of the players said.
Earlier, the Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mustapha Ahmed incurred the wrath of the Queens when he offered to pay them a meager honorarium of $2,000 each from the $23,000 each owed them.” READ MORE
“Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan will host the gold winning Black Queens at his million dollar plush residence at Broadcasting on the Mallam-Kasoa highway DAILY GUIDE SPORTS can confirm. The unofficial meeting scheduled for November is in fulfillment of the Shanghai SIPG striker’s promise to top up the financial reward he promised the female side ahead of the Brazzaville All African Games. It is also to share his (Gyan) birthday with the team for honoring their word for winning the trophy and putting Ghana female football at the highest level.“Yes he will host them when he arrives next month, he promised them and he wants to honour his word. He just wants to bless the girls, he feels so proud for their feat.”“He told me he felt like blessing them in Congo, and that to a large extent worked like magic, and I can say it played a role in the team lifting the ultimate,” said Sammy Anim Addo, CEO of the Asamoah Gyan Foundation.” READ MORE