Sports Minister didn’t respond when we requested to meet him – Amputee team coach

Richard Obeng, head coach of Ghana’s national Amputee Football team, has revealed that the team’s efforts to meet with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, were initially met with silence.

This disclosure follows their recent victory in the African Amputee Football Cup of Nations (AAFCON) in Egypt. It marked their second consecutive championship win.

After their triumphant return, the team paid visits to various personalities, including former President John Mahama. Donations were received which were crucial given their financial difficulties.

Their visit to the Sports Minister, however, did not proceed as smoothly as anticipated.

Coach Obeng recounted in an interview with Akoma FM in Kumasi that their visit to the Ministry was marred by the Minister’s displeasure at the team’s prior engagements with other individuals.

However, Obeng says, it was not their plan to seek support elsewhere before visiting the Ministry.

“We have not been going around begging for alms after winning the tournament,” Obeng clarified. “The NSA was asked why no one met us to receive our trophy. We were told they were not aware of our return. This was false because the date for our return tickets was known to them.”

He explained that their visit to Pastor Adom Kyei, who had provided the team with jerseys for the tournament, was merely to express their gratitude.

• We’ve been denied the opportunity to meet President Akufo Addo – Amputee team captain

“We went to him because he purchased the jerseys we wore at the tournament for us. We had no jersey and were there just to show our appreciation,” he added.

Our visit to John Mahama triggered attention – Amputee coach

The pivotal moment came after they met former President John Mahama, which seemed to spur the Ministry into action.

“We were only called after we visited Ex-President Mahama. Prior to that, we had made a request to present the trophy to the before on the 3rd requested date that might be appropriate for the Minister. But we didn’t get any response. We only got his attention after we visited the Ex-President,” Obeng stated.