Ghana Wheelchair Basketball Federation Ashanti Region Chairman Osei Mensah has spat fire at government agencies in the country for failing to provide funds for the national team’s participation at the recently held Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.
Speaking to Kumasi-based radio station Ashh FM in the wake of the team’s bronze medal win at the tournament held in Nigeria. Detailing the harsh conditions the national side went through to represent the country; Mensah stated his delegation received no aid. He said:
“We wrote so many letters but unfortunately we didn’t get any help from government until some churches and Champion Divine (Clinic) came to our aid. We wrote to the Ashanti regional minister Hon Isaac Ackon, to intervene with the ministry of youth and sports for fund but the minister gave as ideas without money, so we need to go and beg”.
Nigeria won gold in the competition’s fifth edition as Ghana’s female national side placed fourth. The five day tournament featured teams from West African countries including Togo and Benin.
Ghana’s Wheelchair team has been hit by several instances of financial shortcoming with the Nigerian trip being the latest. Earlier in the year, members of the team failed to represent the nation in Morocco for a technical summit.
