Sports Minister Kofi Adams Addresses Tax-Related Bonus Delays for Black Stars and Denies Black Maidens Arrears

The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has clarified the government's financial standing regarding Ghana’s national football teams, revealing that tax disputes are the primary cause for the delay in paying bonuses to the Black Stars. Appearing before Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, the Minister provided a comprehensive update on the aftermath of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the current status of the women’s national teams. While the Black Stars successfully reached the World Cup in North America, their journey ended in the Round of 32, and the subsequent disbursement of player bonuses has since been stalled by technicalities regarding tax responsibilities.

Minister Adams emphasized that the government is committed to fulfilling its obligations to the senior national team but noted that a resolution is needed on whether the tax burden falls on the individual players or the state. "Once this is clarified, the payments will proceed," Adams assured. This financial update comes as the Black Stars, under the guidance of Coach Carlos Queiroz, pivot toward the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The team is scheduled to face Côte d'Ivoire on September 24 and The Gambia on September 27, with the squad announcement expected imminently to begin preparations for these critical fixtures.

In contrast to the situation with the senior men's team, the Minister forcefully rejected allegations that the government owes per diems or bonuses to the Black Maidens, Ghana’s U-17 women’s team. Addressing reports of outstanding payments, Adams stated he is not aware of any approved bonuses due to the team that remain unpaid. He explained the administrative distinction in funding, noting that while the Ghana Football Association (GFA) manages player bonuses during qualifying phases, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation intervenes when teams participate in officially sanctioned international tournaments. The Black Maidens have already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco and recently demonstrated their prowess with a 4-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup.

However, the outlook was less positive for the senior women’s team, the Black Queens. During his briefing to Parliament, the Minister confirmed that the team failed to advance to the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). This exit resulted in the Black Queens missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The Ministry is expected to review these performances as part of a broader strategy to improve the competitive standing of Ghana’s national teams across both youth and senior levels in the coming year.