Samson Deen introduces medal bonus scheme for Ghana's Para Athletes at Glasgow 2026

The President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana and President of the African Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen, has announced a Special Target Podium Medal Bonus for Ghanaian para athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The initiative is aimed at rewarding excellence, motivating athletes to deliver outstanding performances, and reaffirming Ghana's commitment to recognising the achievements of its para athletes on the international stage.

Under the incentive package, every Ghanaian para athlete who wins a medal at the Games will receive an immediate cash award as follows:

• Gold Medal: £3,000

• Silver Medal: £2,000
• Bronze Medal: £1,000

The first beneficiary of the scheme is Zinabu Issah, who won Ghana's first medal at the Games after claiming silver in the Women's T57 Shot Put event. She is expected to receive her £2,000 cash award during a special presentation ceremony in Glasgow.

Encouraging Team Ghana, Samson Deen urged the athletes to compete with determination and pride.

"Wear the Ghana colours with pride. Every performance you deliver sends a powerful message that disability is never a limitation to greatness," he said.

Mr. Deen explained that the Special Target Podium Medal Bonus is a personal initiative intended to recognise excellence, reward dedication and inspire Ghana's para athletes to pursue podium success with confidence.

"Our athletes have worked tirelessly to represent Ghana with pride. This bonus is our way of recognising their sacrifice, determination and excellence. We want every athlete to know that their achievements are valued, and we remain committed to supporting them in their pursuit of success," he stated.

He congratulated Zinabu Issah on becoming Ghana's first medallist at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, describing her achievement as a source of national pride and an inspiration to young athletes and persons with disabilities across Ghana and the African continent.

The NPC Ghana President also encouraged the remaining members of Team Ghana to stay focused and united throughout the competition, expressing confidence that more medals would be won before the Games conclude.

Focus shifts to LA28 Paralympic Games

Looking beyond Glasgow, Mr. Deen announced plans to officially launch an enhanced Special Target Podium Medal Prize Scheme for the LA28 Paralympic Games during a special Team Ghana ceremony in Accra ahead of the country's qualification and final preparations for Los Angeles.

The event will also unveil the Follow My Athlete Scheme, an initiative designed to connect individual para athletes with corporate organisations, institutions, philanthropists and private sponsors who will provide dedicated financial and technical support throughout their qualification journey to the LA28 Paralympic Games.

According to the NPC Ghana President, the ceremony will bring together para athletes, coaches, government officials, development partners, corporate organisations, members of the diplomatic community and key sports stakeholders to celebrate Team Ghana, launch the enhanced medal incentive programme and mobilise national support for the country's Paralympic campaign.

He disclosed that the LA28 Special Target Podium Medal Awards would feature an enhanced incentive package aimed at motivating Ghanaian athletes to achieve historic podium finishes at the Paralympic Games.

Mr. Deen said details of the prize structure, implementation framework and sponsorship opportunities under the Follow My Athlete Scheme would be unveiled during the Accra launch.

He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Ghana's para athletes receive the recognition, investment and support they deserve—not only for qualifying to compete on the world's biggest sporting stage, but also for achieving excellence through discipline, resilience and determination.

The National Paralympic Committee Ghana also reiterated its commitment to building a sustainable high-performance pathway for para athletes by strengthening athlete welfare, expanding corporate partnerships and introducing innovative programmes that will position Ghana for sustained success at the LA28 Paralympic Games and beyond.