Ghanaian athletes are urging the government to pay their overdue allowances as they prepare for the Olympic Games starting on July 26 in Paris. Currently training in Strasbourg, France, the athletes, who have excelled in past events like the World Relay Championships and the African Athletics Championships (AAC), have not received their promised bonuses.
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Speaking anonymously to Graphic Sports, the athletes stressed the importance of timely payments to boost morale. They highlighted that they were only paid per diem during the African Games last June and returned from the AAC without any allowances, leaving them with bills to pay, especially those living abroad.
They also requested payments in foreign currencies to avoid the hassle of cashing cheques in local currency, which requires authorizing family members to handle the cheques, convert the money, and send it overseas, resulting in significant losses due to transfer fees and bank charges.
In response, Bawah Fuseini, President of Ghana Athletics, acknowledged the delays and assured that the issue would be resolved. He emphasized the need to treat AAC bonuses like those for AFCON and to address the inconvenience of cedi cheques for foreign-based athletes.
The Ghanaian team, including eight athletes in various events, will continue their preparations in Paris until July 22 before heading to the games village. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games run from July 26 to August 11.
