Medal winners from the 2023 African Games have criticized the Ministry of Youth and Sports for failing to pay their bonuses from the continental competition.
Winifred Ntumi, who secured Ghana’s medal success at the Games by winning one gold and two silvers in weightlifting, revealed that she has not received the promised money for her achievements.
Despite her efforts to get the government to fulfill its promise, Ntumi stated that she has not received her bonuses since the end of the competition.
Other medalists from the Games, who spoke to Joy Sports anonymously, confirmed that they are also yet to receive their due bonuses.
“I’ve not received the money yet. [All the disciplines] have not heard from them up till now. Sometimes, when I call, they don’t even pick up,” she said on Happy FM.
“It is with the Minister (Mustapha Ussif) and we’ve not heard from him.”
The 21-year-old also noted that the situation was different when she achieved success at the previous edition of the African Games.
“It is very heartbreaking because this is the first time I’ve experienced this. In Rabat (Morocco), I got the money immediately after I finished the competition. This is my home country,” she continued.
“I competed on the 10th of March, and today is 18th of April. We don’t even need reasons, but let’s hear from you.”
Before the competition began, the ministry announced that athletes winning medals would receive cash bonuses. Gold medalists were promised $3,000, silver medalists $2,000, and bronze medalists $1,000. Ghana achieved its highest-ever medal haul in the 59-year history of the competition, amassing a total of 69 medals. The breakdown included 19 gold, 29 silver, and 21 bronze medals across 10 sporting disciplines. Armwrestling contributed the most medals, accounting for 41, which is 60% of the country’s total haul.