Kofi Adams is the Minister of Sports and Recreation
Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has disclosed that his efforts to convince the Black Queens to prepare for their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying game have proven futile.
Ahead of Ghana’s second-leg match against Egypt in the 2026 WAFCON, the players have demanded that their unpaid bonuses of $9,500 be paid in full before they play.
According to the Minister, he and Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku, along with other officials visited the team to explain the circumstances leading to the debt.
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“I was out of the country, so when I arrived, the GFA President briefed me about the situation with the Black Queens. After several failed attempts, he suggested we go and meet them. I told them it’s true we owe them, and the government is going through the necessary processes to secure approvals. The debt arose because, in presenting the estimate for that tournament, a significant portion of their accommodation costs was scrapped.
“In the end, we had to use part of the bonus allocation to cover accommodation expenses, and this was communicated to them. We assured them that the bonuses would be paid, including all their per diems for the tournament. Personally, I gave them GH¢10,000 to support them, so if we’ve done all this, it shows our commitment to settling the debt,” he said in Twi on Asempa FM.
However, Kofi Adams noted that his pleas went unheeded, as the players insisted on receiving their bonuses or they may boycott the match.
He expressed disappointment in the stance taken by the Black Queens, stating that the government has shown enough commitment to resolving their grievances.
“We promised that once the finance ministry and the Controller and Accountant General give clearance, we will pay them. We said everything and pleaded with them, though we didn’t want to give a specific date for payment. Their refusal to play could lead to the nation being banned. But they looked us in the face and said they will not play until payment is made,” he added.
Watch Kofi Adams’ interview below:
🚨Take time and Listen to what Minister Kofi Adams said this morning on the Black Queens.
I’m not surprise, cuz he violated & talked about Black stars budget and Otto Addo
Trust the GFA at your own risk!! pic.twitter.com/gV0J2dW3fF
— Listowel Mensah, MBA (@Listo_Mens) October 27, 2025
SB/JE
Meanwhile, watch the latest Sports Check interview with Alex Kotey, the GFA Referees Manager below:
