Seems so typical of Ghana that right on the international stage we set ourselves up for embarrassment.
Brazil 2014 was the pinnacle of such humiliation, yet two years later nothing has been learned and here we are back at square one.
The female u-17 national team, the Black Maidens, are currently in Jordan representing the country in the Fifa u-17 Women’s World Cup. They are doing a decent job of representing us as well, qualifying for the quarter finals despite starting from a tough group including the USA and Japan.
Slated to play North Korea on Thursday, it has now emerged that the girls have not been paid a pesewa so far to represent their nation. And these girls, as we know, are not highly paid prima donnas playing for clubs in Europe, but young students still trying to find their way in their careers.
According tothe state owned Graphic Sports, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has failed to release funds to be given to the team, meaning the girls have not been paid their per diems for their time spent in the country. The GFA gave the team $25,000 for operational costs when they left but that has already been exhausted, and the team is facing embarrassment.
The Chairman of the Management Committee, Mr Augustine Asante, said the situation could have dire consequences on the team’s state of mind ahead of such a crucial game against the North Koreans.
“This has never happened before and we have had to really talk to the girls about the situation. Please if nothing at all, their per diem should be sent and paid to them at least for now, so they can have some smiles on their faces and be motivated for the tough quarter-final match ahead,” he told the publication.