The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has rejected claims by the Black Queens that they are owed outstanding per diems, insisting that government has fulfilled its approved allowance obligations.
The ministry’s position follows a statement issued by the Black Queens players on Wednesday, in which they raised concerns over unpaid financial commitments, welfare, management support and their treatment during the WAFCON in Morocco.
The players said their concerns included outstanding bonuses from the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco, a WAFCON qualification bonus, group-stage winning bonuses and per diem payments. They also called for greater attention to their mental health and general welfare.
The statement came after Ghana’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Malawi, which ended the Black Queens’ hopes of securing automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The defeat has left Ghana with a longer route to the global tournament, with the Black Queens set to face Côte d’Ivoire in a decisive play-off. Victory would move Ghana into the FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament.
The financial dispute has created a major distraction ahead of the crucial encounter, with the players insisting that their concerns were raised to demand better conditions and not to create confrontation.
Ministry Says Per Diems Were Paid
In a press statement, the Ministry said players and eligible officials received their per diems in advance for the period covering July 7 to August 7, 2026. “On 29 July 2026, players and eligible officials received their per diems in advance,” the ministry stated, adding that the payments were acknowledged through signed allowance sheets.
Sports and Recreation Minister Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams subsequently shared the allowance and claim sheets on social media as evidence of the payments made to the players and officials.
Following Ghana’s quarter-final elimination and continued stay in Morocco for the World Cup qualification pathway, the Ministry said an additional per diem payment was made on August 11 to cover the period from August 8 to 14.
It therefore maintained that “as of 12 August 2026, Government has no outstanding per diem obligation to the Black Queens,” directly contradicting the players’ account.
The Ministry also distinguished between per diems and winning bonuses, saying the Black Queens earned one winning bonus after defeating Cape Verde in the WAFCON group stage.
It explained that winning bonuses are processed separately and paid directly into the bank accounts of players and eligible officials after the necessary documentation, statutory deductions and other financial procedures have been completed.
The Ministry further rejected claims regarding an outstanding WAFCON qualification bonus, including alleged payments connected to Ghana’s qualifying matches against Egypt.
“Under Government’s current sports financing framework, qualification for WAFCON through the home-and-away qualifying round does not attract a separate qualification bonus.”
Ministry of Sports and Recreation statement on the Black Queens per diems
Black Queens Raise Broader Welfare Concerns
While the Ministry disputes the claim over unpaid per diems, the players’ statement went beyond financial matters, raising concerns about their welfare, management and the level of support provided to the team during the tournament.
The players reportedly called for outstanding financial commitments to be honoured and urged authorities to treat the welfare of national team players as a priority.
They also raised concerns about the level of engagement from government officials during the tournament, arguing that greater institutional support and communication were necessary.
“We believe that financial commitments to players should be honoured on time and that the welfare of national team players must be treated as a priority,” the players said.
The Ministry, however, said the Black Queens are currently supported by a comprehensive team structure comprising a team manager, team administrator, two physiotherapists, a medical doctor, nurse, dietician, chef, management team members and other technical officials.
It said the structure was designed to provide the players with the medical, nutritional, administrative and general welfare support required throughout the tournament. “Beyond these arrangements, the Ministry has ensured that any legitimate additional welfare need brought to the attention of team management is promptly addressed,” it added.
The Ministry maintained that government remains committed to the development of women’s football and urged all financial and welfare concerns to be addressed accurately and transparently through the appropriate institutional channels.
With Ghana’s World Cup hopes now resting on the play-off route, the Black Queens must quickly turn their attention from the dispute to Thursday’s decisive encounter with Côte d’Ivoire, with a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification pathway at stake.
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