Black Queens Payments Row: Sports Ministry Explains What Government Owes

ACCRA, Ghana — A dispute over allowances, bonuses and welfare has emerged between Ghana’s Black Queens and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, with both sides offering different accounts of what is owed to the national women’s team.

The Ministry insists that the government has no outstanding per diem obligation to the players and eligible officials.

The Black Queens, however, have called for greater transparency and clarification over payments, particularly concerning the period when their training camp began and bonuses linked to their WAFCON qualification.

Black Queens' Strong WAFCON Campaign

The payment dispute comes after the Black Queens delivered a strong performance at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in a crucial encounter that kept the team's World Cup qualification hopes alive.

Also Read: Black Queens Beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to Keep World Cup Dream Alive

The team's campaign has kept the spotlight firmly on the players, making the latest disagreement over financial entitlements particularly significant.

What the Sports Ministry Says

In a statement issued on August 12, the Ministry said the Black Queens received their per diems in advance on July 29.

According to the Ministry, that payment covered the period from July 26 to August 7.

It said another payment was made on August 11 to cover the team's continued stay in Morocco from August 8 to August 14 following their WAFCON quarter-final exit and their participation in the FIFA Women's World Cup play-in pathway.

The Ministry therefore maintains that, as of August 12, there was no outstanding government obligation regarding the team's per diems.

But the Players Are Asking Different Questions

The Black Queens subsequently responded to the Ministry, saying their concerns were not simply about creating conflict but about communication, transparency and accountability.

One of their main concerns is the period between the beginning of their official training camp and the date the Ministry says per diem payments began.

The players say their camp officially started on July 11, while the Ministry's statement refers to payments covering the period from July 26.

They want an explanation for how the earlier period is being treated.

The players also said they had attempted to engage the Ministry privately before making their concerns public.

According to their statement, they were disappointed that the Ministry responded publicly without first addressing the issues directly with them.

What About the Bonuses?

The bonus issue is another major point of disagreement.

The Ministry acknowledges that the Black Queens earned a winning bonus for their victory over Cape Verde during the WAFCON group stage.

However, it says that bonus is still being processed through the required financial procedures before payment is made directly to the players and eligible officials.

The Ministry also disputes the existence of a separate government-approved WAFCON qualification bonus for Ghana's qualification through the matches against Egypt.

It says the current sports financing framework does not provide for such a bonus and that no winning bonuses were approved for those qualifying matches.

The Ministry says the Ghana Football Association was informed of that position.

The Players Dispute That Position

The Black Queens have questioned the Ministry's explanation on qualification bonuses.

The players say they were surprised by the claim that no such bonus existed, pointing to what they describe as a qualification bonus paid the previous year.

They also referred to a July 28 interaction with the Sports Minister, during which they say they were informed that an accountant would bring their qualification bonuses for the Egypt matches.

The players said the amount that was subsequently brought did not correspond with what they understood had been communicated to them.

This is therefore more than a simple disagreement over whether money has been paid.

At the centre of the dispute is what the players were entitled to receive, when those entitlements became due, and what commitments were actually approved by government.

Ministry Defends Team's Welfare Support

The Ministry has also rejected concerns about inadequate support for the team.

It says the Black Queens have been provided with a support structure that includes medical, nutritional, administrative and technical personnel.

The Ministry listed a team manager, administrator, physiotherapists, medical doctor, nurse, dietician, chef and other officials among the personnel supporting the team.

The players, however, have maintained that they are asking for better treatment and clearer communication rather than special treatment.

They argue that representing Ghana comes with significant personal and professional sacrifices and that the team deserves proper support and accountability from the institutions responsible for their welfare.

Why the Dispute Matters

The disagreement comes at a sensitive time for the Black Queens.

After their WAFCON campaign, the team remains involved in the FIFA Women's World Cup qualification pathway, meaning attention is still firmly on the players and their preparations.

The dispute also raises broader questions about how Ghana's national teams are financed, how player allowances and bonuses are communicated, and whether athletes clearly understand the terms governing their financial entitlements.

For now, the two sides remain apart on some key issues.

The Ministry maintains that approved per diems have been paid and that the Cape Verde winning bonus is being processed.

The players are demanding greater clarity over the period before July 26, qualification bonuses and the commitments communicated to them.

Until the relevant documents and payment records are fully reconciled, the disagreement is unlikely to disappear.

Global Pulse GH will continue to follow the issue and report any further clarification from the Ministry, the Ghana Football Association or the Black Queens.

This report presents the positions of both the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Black Queens players. Claims and disputed entitlements are reported as statements by the respective parties and should not be treated as independently established facts.