Often than not, service to one's nation is deemed as sacrificial and an honor. Irrespective of this, once a promise is made to also honor an individual for their service, it is mandatory to be heeded to. A two way flow!
In 2015, a bevy of ladies were called to represent Ghana as the nation sought to qualify for the 2016 World Youth Tournament in Papua New Guinea after 3 round of games. Ghana exited the 2016 tourney after a defeat to New Zealand whilst they held giants France and USA to stalemates.
5 years down the lane, the players are yet to receive their match bonuses. The bonuses totaling $12,000 for the players who featured in all 6 games (qualifiers and world cup).
As a welfare-centered media house, Time FM's sports desk led by Nana Kalakuta engaged some of the victims notably Rita Darko and Belinda Anane. The two players confirmed the sad story to be true.
"It's true, we played the qualifiers under the administration of the former President of Ghana, John Mahama. Soon after we returned from the qualifiers, there was a change in government in about a month or two. We met the then minister of sports (Nii Lante) who offered as a quarter of the due money."
"He assured us that the next minister will pay us after the handing over ceremony. It's been 5 years without any payment. We called Nana Benyin (Head of Management team at the time) who informed us about about a proposal sent to the current ministry"
Rita has been on the books of Atletico Ouirense in Portugal since 2016 with Belinda currently a student in the USA.
A quick call made to the quarters of Nana Benyin revealed that the player's are yet to receive the said bonuses. He however made it known that a proposal has been sent to the FA to work in tandem with the ministry to get the arrears settled.
Grapevine sources divulged that Mr. Alex Asante, an administrator at the FA rubbished calls from the girls claiming it was not right for players to write letters to the ministry whilst asserting that it is not the only outstanding bonus owed by the ministry.
A quarter of the money owed them was paid in 2016. Currently, the players have formed an informal group to retrieve their arrears.
More to follow.........................................
By; Kwasi Gyamfi Din-Chin
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