Ghanaian athletes who were set to represent Ghana at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are expressing their grievances over unpaid allowances for previous competitions they participated in on behalf of the country.

The athletes were promised allowances for competitions such as the World Relay Championships in the Bahamas and the African Athletics Championships (AAC) in Douala, Cameroon, where they won medals. However, this promise has not been fulfilled.

Speaking anonymously to Graphic Sports, the athletes called on the government to make the payments as soon as possible to assist with the team's preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.

"This issue is becoming more common. We received per diem during the African Games last June, but we have not received any allowances for competing in the AAC. We have returned home empty-handed with bills to pay, especially for those of us living abroad. We do not have cedi bank accounts, so receiving cheques in the local currency creates problems. We need to authorize family members to handle the cheques, convert the money, and send it to us. By the time we receive it, we lose a lot due to transfers and bank charges," they explained according to myjoyonline.com.

In response to these claims, Bawa Fuseini, President of the Ghana Athletics Association, acknowledged the delay but assured that his organization is working to promptly resolve the issue.

"Yes, there are outstanding allowances. I have informed the International Games Committee of the ministry that bonuses for medals at the AAC should be treated similarly to those at AFCON. We are advocating for bonuses as outlined in our AAC budget," he told Graphic Sports.

The nine athletes representing Ghana at the games include Abdul R. Saminu, Benjamin Azamati, Joseph Paul Amoah, Edwin Gadayi, Joselle Mensah, Isaac Botsio, Fuseini Ibrahim, and Rose Yeboah.

The Paris Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

SB/OGB