African Games medalists cries over unpaid bonuses

Medal winners from the 2023 African Games have lashed out at the Ministry of Youth and Sports following their unpaid bonuses from the continental competition.

Winifred Ntumi, who opened Ghana’s medal success at the Games in March, winning one gold and two silvers in the weightlifting discipline, has come out public to confirm not receiving the promised money for her achievement.

According to her, attempts to get the government to pay her bonuses have yielded no results since the end of the competition.

Some other medalists from the Games spoke to Joy Sports on the condition of unanimity and confirmed they are yet to also 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 further added that the situation was quite different when she chalked 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.”

Prior to the start of the competition, the ministry announced athletes who came out with medals would receive cash bonuses.

Gold medalists were promised $3000, $2000 for winning a silver medal, while bronze medals were set to attract a cash prize of $1000.

At the end of the games, Ghana amassed 69 medals overall, the country’s most medal haul in the 59-year history of the competition.

The breakdown of the medals had Ghana winning 19 Gold, 29 silver and 21 bronze, all from 10 sporting disciplines.

Armwrestling chipped in the most medals, contributing 41 medals, which is 60% of the country’s total haul.