We’re Treated Like Orphans In Ghana Sports – Ghana Wheelchair Basketball Federation

The chief scribe of the Ghana Wheelchair Basketball Federation GWBF, Wilson Agbesi Yao known in the Sports fraternity as the Lion has lamented how they are treated like orphans in Ghana Sports without any care and support.

He made this known in an interview with our reporter Akakpo Agodji were he lamented the poor treatment that is meted out to them by the powers that be.

The outspoken General Secretary has bemoaned the broken promises made by the Sports Ministry to them about settling the Federation’s debt owed its International mother body the International wheelchair basketball federation ( IWBF).

He says that the Africa Zone have not been paid the required affiliation fees and this has attracted a ban from the world body.

“My brother you are very much aware that in the year 2017 our senior national team qualified to take part in the Africa qualifies in Durban South Africa for the world championship which later took place in Germany, after our confirmation of our participation and assurance from the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the needed logistical and financial support for our participation , we got the biggest disappointment of our life when just a week to the tournament we were asked by the Ministry to pull out of the tournament because there was no money.” Mr Agbesi Yao lamented.

“We immediately informed the IWBF of the situation which the IWBF immediately sent a caution letter to the Ministry via the Honourable Minister and copied the then chief director , Mr Quist ( the late ) may his soul continue to rest in peace , in the said caution letter the IWBF stated boldly that if even we pull out from the tournament at that late hour we will still pay the participation fee because they have done all the needed arrangements covering Team Ghana as well as a fine which all amounted to $15,000 and the Ministry said they have no option but we should pull out and they will settle that later”.

“Wilson Agbesi went further to disclose that the Ministry then asked him and the national coach to move to Durban during the tournament to go and plead with the IWBF to give the ministry some time to settle the debt which flight ticket was bought for them to Durban and they went to do exactly that and the IWBF accepted and gave them 1 year period to settle the issue but till now the issue is still pending and this has forced the IWBF to ban Ghana till the debt is paid. ”

He lamented that the ban has really affected the federation a lot the past four years and it is their prayer that the Ministry will come to their aid as soon as possible , he indicated that due to the ban they have not been able to take part in any IWBF sanctioned games in the past four years as well as have not been able to access any developmental grants from the IWBF and as well revealed that they petitioned the Honourable Minister during his vetting on the issue and he did promise publicly that he will help solve the issue when he assumes office but till date nothing has been done after even meeting the Minister one on one on the issue .

He went further to explain that if the issue is not settled as soon as possible Ghana will not be allowed to feature in the wheelchair basketball next year in African Para Games which will run alongside the 2023 African games which Ghana is hosting.

He concluded by saying this is the situation the Federation finds it self hence he believes they are being treated like orphans in Ghana sports and urgently called on the Sports Minister to save the federation from this predicament .