The captain of Ghana’s Amputee Football Team, Richard Arthur Openti, recently shared the team’s struggles to gain recognition and support from the government. Despite winning their second straight African Amputee Football Cup of Nations (AAFCON) title in Egypt, the team had a hard time getting a meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to present the trophy.
Openti said that the team tried to arrange a meeting through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Authority, but their efforts didn’t work out. As a result, they decided to visit former President John Dramani Mahama, who welcomed them and gave them a cash donation.
The team’s decision to meet with Mahama led to some criticism from the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, who wasn’t happy that they accepted money from the former president, who is running for office again in 2024. However, Openti explained that the team had no choice but to seek support elsewhere since they were unable to get the attention of the current government.
Openti also pointed out that disabled athletes in Ghana often have to rely on their own contributions to represent their country, while their peers in other nations are rewarded well for their achievements. He expressed his disappointment that the team’s hard work and success weren’t properly recognized by the authorities.
The Black Challenge’s experience highlights the challenges faced by disabled athletes in Ghana and the need for better support and recognition from the government and sports authorities. Despite their impressive achievements, the team had to go through a lot just to get the attention they deserved for bringing honor to their nation.
