Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has rejected claims by members of the Black Queens that government owes them outstanding per diems and bonuses, saying official payment records show that the players have received all allowances due to them.
His response follows a statement issued by the Black Queens on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in which the players demanded what they described as unpaid financial entitlements from their participation in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The players listed outstanding per diems, bonuses for qualifying for the tournament and a bonus for reaching the quarter-finals among their claims.
The Ministry, however, said its records do not support those allegations.
According to the Ministry, the players and eligible officials received their per diems in advance on July 29, covering the period from July 26 to August 7, 2026.
It said another payment was made on August 11 to cover August 8 to 14, after Ghana remained in Morocco following their quarter-final elimination because of the World Cup play-off pathway.
The Ministry said each payment was acknowledged by the recipients through signed allowance sheets, copies of which were attached to its statement.
“These payments were duly acknowledged by the recipients through signed allowance sheets,” the Ministry stated.
It said the documents were released to ensure transparency and establish the facts, adding that as of August 12, 2026, government had no outstanding per diem payments to the Black Queens.
On bonuses, the Ministry confirmed that the players earned a winning bonus for their victory over Cape Verde, but said the payment was still being processed and would be deposited into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
It also disputed the claim that a WAFCON qualification bonus remained unpaid, explaining that qualification through the home-and-away round does not attract a separate government bonus under the current financing arrangement.
“There was no Government approval for the payment of winning bonuses for the WAFCON qualifying matches against Egypt,” the Ministry stated.
The government also defended the support provided to the team, citing medical, nutritional, administrative and technical arrangements put in place throughout the tournament.
The conflicting accounts have now put the spotlight on the specific payments being disputed between the players and government, as Ghana prepares for its crucial World Cup play-off against Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
