Sports Ministry working to clear outstanding bonuses for all national teams - Sports Minister Kofi Adams
The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has confirmed that several of Ghana’s national teams are owed winning and qualification bonuses but says efforts are ongoing to clear all outstanding payments.
Mr Adams, who is also the Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, disclosed that teams including the Black Stars, Black Queens, U-20 and U-17 national sides have outstanding bonuses due to them.
Speaking on Sporty FM on Thursday, the Sports Minister admitted that delays in payment exist but insisted that the government is committed to settling all arrears.
"The truth is that national teams are owed winning bonuses one way or the other. The U-20 boys and girls are owed some bonuses; the U-17 girls and Black Queens are owed qualification bonuses, and the Black Stars are also owed bonuses," he said.
However, Mr Adams explained that the Black Stars have received most of their outstanding payments, particularly those relating to their qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to him, the senior national team had all their qualification bonuses from 2023, 2024 and 2025 paid before the start of the tournament in North America.
"Of all these teams I have mentioned, the Black Stars are the least owed. Indeed, at the World Cup, the Black Stars were paid fully in all the qualifying bonuses from 2023, 2024 and 2025; all the games they won and the outstanding qualifiers - everything was paid before we started the World Cup.
The Minister also revealed that the players received their World Cup appearance fees in full, with no outstanding payments regarding that particular entitlement.
"We also paid their appearance fee fully, and so every player was paid; no player is currently owed in terms of appearance fee," he added.
Mr Adams, however, noted that the qualification bonus earned after Ghana progressed from the World Cup group stage to the Round of 32 remains unpaid.
He explained that the delay is partly due to deductions required under the new Sports Act, which mandates that a percentage of financial benefits paid to athletes and officials must be channelled into a sports development fund.
"However, what is outstanding is the qualification bonus from the group stage to the Round of 32, and that is yet to be paid. That is also so because some deductions have to be made per the new Sports Act for every bonus that is paid and every financial benefit for officials or athletes in participating in any of our competitions; a percentage will be deducted at source into the sports fund for the development of sports.
"We are working to ensure the Finance Ministry releases outstanding monies for the Black Queens, the U-20, both boys and girls and the U-17 girls are also given what is due them," he added.
The Black Queens are currently preparing in Morocco for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), while the Black Princesses have secured qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Ghana’s other youth national teams, including the Black Starlets and Black Satellites, have also participated in their respective international competitions.
The Minister assured that discussions are ongoing to ensure all outstanding bonuses owed Ghana’s national teams are settled.