Ghana Football Association Executive Council member Gifty Oware-Mensah has sparked controversy by offering a surprising justification for why the senior national football team, the Black Stars, receives preferential treatment over other national teams.
The senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, is currently facing challenges with outstanding bonuses from their qualification games for both the African Women’s Cup of Nations and the 2024 Olympic Games. Each player is reportedly owed $7,500, even after their bonuses were reduced by 50%.
Reports indicate that the players are considering boycotting the final Olympic qualifier against Zambia on February 23 if the bonuses are not paid.
This situation has arisen shortly after Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif confirmed that the Black Stars players had been paid their bonuses before the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, a competition where Ghana exited at the group stages for the second consecutive tournament.
In an exclusive interview with Joy Sports, Gifty Oware-Mensah, who also serves as the Chairperson for the Black Queens Management Committee, appeared to downplay the seriousness of the Black Queens’ bonus issue, drawing criticism and raising questions about fairness and equality in football administration.
“The Ghana Football Association sells brands and products. Our foremost product is the Black Stars, and this spans across the world, not just in Ghana,” she said.
“The male team is the one that dominates the love and affection from the country.
“I find it quite worrying when I see people try to compare their treatment vis a vis the women’s team.
“They say half a loaf is better than none, and the beauty of it is that the first reason anyone should have to wear the national jersey is because of patriotism,” she added.
You spoke like a house wife.