Mahama intervenes in Black Queens bonus row

President John Mahama has instructed the Sports Ministry to immediately mobilize funds to settle the outstanding bonuses owed the Black Queens.

The national women’s football team have refused to leave the M-Plaza Hotel in Accra since their return from the 2015 All Africa Games – where they won gold – over unpaid outstanding bonuses.

Each player of the Black Queens is owed an accumulated amount of $23,000 including outstanding bonuses from qualifying series running into years.

But the Sports Ministry offered each player $2000 on their return from the All Africa Games in Congo where they clinched their first ever gold medal in the competition.

Several attempts to have the team accept the $2000 with the promise of settling the outstanding amount at a later date have proved futile as the players remain adamant they want all their outstanding bonuses paid before they leave the hotel.

The stand-off has led to another embarrassing episode in Ghana football just over a year since the Black Stars infamously rebelled in camp at the 2014 World Cup over delayed payment of appearance fees.

President John Mahama who is currently away in the USA for the United Nations General Assembly has ordered for the quick resolution of the problem back home after receiving a thorough briefing on the situation.

Sources close to the Presidency have revealed to GHANAsoccernet.com that the Sports Ministry has been ordered to mobilize the funds, which they claim they do not have, to settle the Black Queens by today.

It is however unlikely that the Black Queens will be settled in full due to the well-publicized strain on the public purse.

They will however be given a chunk of the outstanding amount and will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Sports Ministry over the future payment of the outstanding amount.

Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi had earlier on Monday visited the team at their hotel to assure them steps are being taken to address the problem.

The treatment meted out to the Black Queens strengthens the perception that the
females are given less priority as compared to their male counterparts.

However, the Ministry insists the national purse is drained as the Black Stars are even owed outstanding bonuses from their 2017 AFCON qualifier against Rwanda.