Athletes must avoid comparing treatment to Black Stars - Ex-GFA Veep Fred Pappoe

Fred Pappoe has urged Ghanaian athletes to channel their grievances through the appropriate federations rather than comparing their situation to that of the Black Stars. His comments follow growing concerns over the level of attention and support given to athletics compared to the senior national football team. Fred Pappoe clarified that travel arrangements for national teams are not directly handled by the Sports Ministry but by the respective sporting federations. He said, "The Sports Ministry does not purchase tickets for the Black Stars. The FA does that, and the Ministry reimburses afterwards, sometimes taking months or years. In this case, the federation responsible for the athletes is the one they have to engage, without drawing comparisons."

Abdul-Rasheed Saminu and Benjamin Azamati recently expressed frustration over difficult travel arrangements to Botswana, saying the exhausting journey affected their preparation and physical condition ahead of competition. Team Ghana secured qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The achievement has been overshadowed by criticism over poor planning, inadequate preparation and limited investment in athletics.

Ghana Athletics will now shift focus to the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium from May 12 to 17.