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National athletes cry foul
Accra, June 16, Ghanadot/GNA -
Members of the National Athletics Team, are unhappy over
their training and camping conditions ahead of preparations
towards the impending National Athletics Championship and
the World Athletics Championship.
According to the athletes, most of them struggle to move
from their various houses for training at the El Wak Stadium
each day without any form of honorarium.
Cyril Ferguson, a member of the team who spoke to the GNA
Sports on behalf of his colleagues noted that, in cases
where they are provided with a means of transport, it is
usually inadequate.
Ferguson stated that members of the team are yet to receive
per diems and other monetary benefits after their return
from an invitational tournament in Benin recently with over
15 medals.
“What we received was a meager GHC 10.00 each on our return
from Benin and this is unfair to us”, he stated.
The member said the training and camping conditions are not
conducive for preparations towards international games,
adding that they lack basic kits to enhance their training.
Ferguson compared training and camping conditions with the
Black Stars and added that it was clear there was an act of
discrimination.
“We are not asking for equal treatment to that of the Black
Stars but if we are given a quarter of what is offered them,
we can go far and bring more laurels to the nation.” He
lamented.
Ferguson however assured that they are bent on making a
significant impact at the National Championship as well as
the World Athletics Championship in Berlin, Germany but will
require adequate financial support to achieve their goal and
to succeed.
He therefore appealed to the National Sports Council (NSC)
and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to come to their aid.
Sandy Osei Agyeman, Chairman of the Ghana Athletics
Association (GAA) told the GNA Sports that the concerns of
the athletes are true but that he inadequacies were due to
lack of resources.
He said there is no firm commitment from the authorities for
the release of funds to enable them to implement their
programmes hence the plight of the athletes.
According to the Chairman, plans are in place to improve the
training and camping conditions of the athletes but they
have remained on paper due to bureaucratic structures.
He, however, expressed the hope that the financial situation
of the Association will improve to enable them see to the
needs of the athletes on time.
GNA
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