Sports Ministry Denies Owing Black Queens Per Diems Amid WAFCON Dispute

The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has rejected claims by Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, that the government owes them outstanding per diems and bonuses during the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

In a statement responding to player concerns raised on August 12, the ministry said all approved per diems have been settled. Players and eligible officials received payments in advance on July 29 covering July 26 to August 7. A further payment was made on August 11 to cover the team’s extended stay from August 8 to 14 after their quarter-final exit, as they remain in Morocco for the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-in pathway.

The ministry stated that as of August 12, the government had no outstanding per diem obligations to the team. Signed allowance sheets were referenced to support the claim.

On bonuses, the ministry confirmed the Black Queens earned a winning bonus from their group-stage victory over Cape Verde. That payment is currently being processed through the required financial procedures and will be transferred to players’ and officials’ bank accounts once completed.

However, it rejected claims of an outstanding qualification bonus from the home-and-away ties against Egypt, noting that such a payment is not provided under the current sports financing framework.

The players had issued a joint statement expressing frustration over unpaid entitlements, welfare support, and limited government engagement during the tournament. They highlighted issues including bonuses linked to previous competitions and qualification, while reaffirming their commitment to representing Ghana ahead of the inter-continental play-off against Côte d’Ivoire.

The ministry maintained that the team has adequate medical, nutritional, and administrative support structures in place and urged that any further concerns be channelled through official institutional processes.

It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Black Queens and their bid to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.