Ministry of Sports & Recreation denies WAFCON bonus approval

The Ministry of Youth and Recreation has denied claims that the government approved winning bonuses for Ghana’s Black Queens during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying matches against Egypt.

In a statement dated 12 August 2026, and signed by Bagbara Tanko, who is the head of PR and Communications, the Ministry said there was no Government authorization.

“There was no government approval for the payment of winning bonuses for the WAFCON qualifying matches against Egypt, and the position was communicated to the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The Ministry of Youth and Sports,” the Ministry noted.

“There was no Government approval for the payment of winning bonuses for the WAFCON qualifying matches against Egypt, and this position was communicated to the Ghana Football Association.”

According to the statement, it was therefore inaccurate to describe the payment as an outstanding government obligation since it had neither been approved nor established as an entitlement.

The Ministry also addressed concerns over the welfare, health and mental well-being of the Black Queens, noting that the team currently has a comprehensive support structure comprising a Team Manager, Team Administrator, two physiotherapists, a medical doctor, a nurse, a dietician, a chef, two management team members and other technical officials.

They explained that, additional legitimate welfare needs brought to the attention of team management are promptly addressed.

The Ministry urged concerns relating to financial entitlements and player welfare to be addressed accurately and transparently through the appropriate institutional channels.

“Government remains firmly behind the Black Queens. We wish the team the very best as they continue their campaign to secure a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” the statement said.

The Black Queens are currently preparing for a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification play-off against Côte d’Ivoire, with the Ministry describing qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 as an immediate national priority.

The match kicks off at 17:00 GMT (5:00 PM local time) at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.