Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has renewed calls for equal pay in sports, stressing that Ghanaian female athletes should receive the same financial recognition as their male counterparts.
His comments come in the wake of the Black Queens’ boycott of training over unpaid bonuses following their impressive bronze finish at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The team recently resumed training after a two-day protest over unpaid bonuses, with each player reportedly owed $9,500.
Kwakye Ofosu described the delay as unacceptable but assured that government action was being taken to resolve the issue swiftly.
“I think we need to treat all athletes equally, irrespective of gender,” he told Joy Sports. “I even hold the view, it may be controversial, but I think we should be paying equal wages to both men and women athletes.”
“Delays are not desirable, of course, and I think we should take steps going forward to ensure that it does not recur,” he said.
The minister’s remarks follow discussions between the Ghana Football Association (GFA) leadership and the Black Queens, which resulted in the team agreeing to play their second-leg WAFCON qualifier against Egypt.
The Queens hold a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg and are looking to seal qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations when they face the Pharaohs in Accra.
