GRi Sports Ghana 13 - 02

GRi Sports Ghana 13 - 02 - 2001

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 February 2001

The Greater Accra Women' Soccer Committee has called on the government to institute an enquiry into the South African trip by the Black Queens last November to find why the per diem of some officials who accompanied the team were slashed.

It should also enquire into an alleged refusal by Ghana Football Association (GFA) to give two officials their bonuses as well as the 600 dollars given to Ms Rosalind Amoh a sports journalist fully sponsored by the Graphic Group of Communication, her employers, as per diem.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday and signed by the chairman of the committee, Mr Fred Gyan Akoto, expressed disappointment at the GFA's treating the officials in a manner not befitting them as hardworking members who have sacrificed a lot for the association.

"We believe we should not allow our hardworking members of the women soccer fraternity to be depressed in the way things have unfolded hence our call that the wrong must be satisfied.''

The statement further regretted the total negligence of Ghana Football Association's governing body to give the women soccer team the necessary support befitting a national side.

'If the women who have been to the world cup should go to town with calabashes in hand begging for support, then we have a misplaced priority by the authorities.'

It questioned the preparedness of Ghana to host an U-19 women soccer fiesta next year when women soccer has no support from the governing body and is struggling for survival on the shoulders of private individuals who are even begging for recognition.

"We think that factually, the Black Queens are next to the Black Stars, but we are not being supported as expected, forcing us to believe that our country is not yet ripped for the fiesta.'

It appealed to corporate bodies and sports loving philanthropist to donate in cash and in kind to the Greater Accra Women Soccer Committee, which is now providing for the Black Queens.

It congratulated Ghana Telecom for their effort to improve women soccer and for producing three teams in the country.

Gawsoc went on a float last Friday to solicit for funds to support their teams.

For two years now, league matches organised for women clubs were not completed for lack of finance.

Meanwhile, Messrs Paul Johnson and Peter Kamei Gyebi, Secretary to the Management Committee and assistant coach of the Black Queens have appealed to Mr Dan Pimi, Chief Director, Ministry of Youth and Sports to use his good offices to assist them to get bonuses of 2,500 dollars each promised them by the former minister of Youth and Sports.

The promise by then minister, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, was in recognition to the team's performance and for winning bronze in the second African Women's Soccer Championship in South Africa last year.

They also appealed to the Editorial Administrator, Graphic Group of Communication to refund an amount of 600 dollars per diem wrongly given to Ms Rosalind Amoh, its employee who was made an official of the contingent by the FA.

In separate statements issued in Accra on Monday and signed by Mr Johnson and Mr Gyebi they said they have evidence that the players and officials, excluding them, have been paid the equivalent of the promised 2,500 dollars in cedis on January five.

It further said it has been confirmed that Miss Rosalind Amoh was fully sponsored by her employers and hence does not qualify for the per diem given her by the FA recognising her as an official.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com