Former Ghana Football Association vice president Fred Pappoe has urged Ghanaian athletes to direct their frustrations to the appropriate sporting authorities rather than comparing their situation to that of the Ghana national football team.
His comments come amid growing debate over the perceived disparity in attention, funding, and logistical support between athletics and the Black Stars.
The discussion intensified after Ghanaian sprinters Abdul-Rasheed Saminu and Benjamin Azamati publicly expressed frustration over the exhausting travel arrangements they endured on their way to Botswana.
According to the athletes, the demanding travel schedule disrupted their preparations and negatively affected their physical condition ahead of competition.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, Pappoe clarified that travel arrangements for national teams are handled by their respective federations and not directly by the Sports Ministry.
“The Sports Ministry does not purchase tickets for the Black Stars. The FA does that, and the Ministry reimburses after, sometimes taking months or years,” he explained.
“In this case, the federation responsible for the athletes is the one they have to look at without drawing comparisons.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the team’s preparations, Team Ghana still managed to qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
However, the achievement has largely been overshadowed by criticism over poor planning, inadequate preparation, and the perceived lack of investment in athletics development.
Attention will now shift to the upcoming African Senior Athletics Championships, which is scheduled to take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium from May 12 to 17, 2026.
