Winnifred Ntumi, a gold medalist from the recently held African Games in Accra, has raised concerns over the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ failure to pay her bonuses. Ntumi, who clinched Ghana’s first medals at the 2023 African Games, expressed frustration at the lack of response from the government despite repeated attempts to claim her rightful earnings.
In an interview with Happy FM, Ntumi revealed that all efforts to receive her bonuses from the Sports Ministry have proved futile. She lamented the lack of communication and acknowledgment from the ministry, stating that despite reaching out, she has not received any updates regarding her payment.
“I’ve not received the money yet. We (all the disciplines) have not heard from them up till now. Sometimes, when I call, they don’t even pick up. It is with the minister (Mustapha Ussif) and we’ve not heard from him,” Ntumi expressed.
Highlighting the disparity between her current situation and previous experiences, Ntumi recalled being promptly paid after winning medals in the previous edition of the competition held in 2019. However, she emphasized the frustration of waiting for over a month without any communication or resolution.
“It is very heartbreaking because this is the first time I’ve experienced this. In Rabat (Morocco), I got the money immediately after I finished the competition. This is my home country,” she remarked.
Ntumi’s outstanding performance at the 2023 African Games saw her clinch three medals in the Weightlifting competition, including gold and two silver medals in the women’s 45kg and 49kg snatch events, respectively. Despite her remarkable achievements, Ntumi and other Ghanaian athletes who secured medals at the 2023 African Games are yet to receive their bonuses.
Expressing solidarity with her fellow athletes, Ntumi emphasized that she is not the only one facing this issue. She called for transparency and accountability from the Sports Ministry, urging officials to provide an explanation for the delayed payments.
As the wait for her bonuses continues, Ntumi’s plight underscores the importance of timely and fair compensation for athletes who dedicate themselves to representing their country on the international stage.