Ghanaian sprinters Abdul Saminu and Benjamin Azamati have taken to social media to criticize the Ministry of Sports and Recreation following the team’s qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
The duo were part of Ghana’s men’s 4x100m relay team that secured qualification on their second attempt at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, after missing out on automatic qualification on Day One.
Despite the achievement, the athletes expressed frustration over travel arrangements and preparation conditions ahead of the competition.
In a post shared on X formerly twitter, Ghana’s fastest man Saminu criticized the handling of logistics, suggesting that better arrangements would have been made if it involved the national football team.
“The Ministry of Sports in Ghana needs to do better, don’t set us for failure. If it was “black stars” flights ticket will be ready month prior to their game 14 hours flight, 16 hours layover is not acceptable for professional athletes. We’re running with jet lag, no proper recovery,” he stated.
Similarly, Azamati highlighted the disadvantage faced by the team compared to their competitors, noting that other athletes had more time to acclimatize.
“We’re competing against guys who’ve been here one to three weeks while we’ve been traveling and arriving a day before on a new continent. I get it, I guess we’re magicians.Do better, Sports Ministry!” he added.
Their comments have sparked renewed conversations about athlete welfare and preparation, particularly for disciplines outside football.
While Ghana continues to make strides in athletics on the international stage, the concerns raised by the athletes underscore the need for more balanced investment, planning, and logistical support across all sporting disciplines.
With the country aiming for success at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, stakeholders may be compelled to reassess how resources are allocated to ensure that athletes across different sports receive the attention and preparation needed to compete at the highest level.
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Story by Erica Odeenyin Odoom | univers.ug.edu.gh
