Five sports federations represented Ghana at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, namely - Swimming, Athletics, Judo, Weightlifting and Boxing which earned the nation bronze after 29 years of participation in the world’s biggest sports festival.

When the team arrived in Accra from Tokyo, there was a huge crowd at the airport to welcome them due to their marvelous achievement, and most were boxing fans.

On Friday, August 20, 2021, the President of Ghana, HE. Nana Akufo-Addo promised the whole team made up of 38 including athletes, coaches, press attaché, medical doctors, covid officer, administrator and chef de mission and federation heads $5,000 each as reward for representing Ghana and not coming home empty handed.

Boxer Samuel Takyi is supposed to get $10,000, a car and $20, 000 for his professional development.

After three months of waiting for the Presidential Promise Bonus, part of Team Ghana, the athletes and coaches were rewarded, while the members who sacrificed a lot, day and night were left out.

Since sports is an ongoing activity, and athletes need to be training and preparing with funds and facilities from their federations, it has become difficult as they need funds to live, and better their performances.

The national boxing team, the Black Bombers for instance owe a lot of people and companies in their preparations towards the Olympic Games, so when they heard of the Presidential Promise, they blessed Nana, as their debts would be sorted, but it is still pending.

The President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), Mr. George Lamptey said he has been having sleepless nights just because he had to sacrifice for Ghana, same as other officials who backed Team Ghana in diverse ways.

Yours Truly, the Press Attache has been using his personal gadgets to work for the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the federations, and was not adequately paid or compensated after the Olympic Games.

The Swimming Association of Ghana also hosted the 14th African Swimming Championship, and it was not easy for them financially, though they put up a successful event.

The athletes, both home based and foreign based have been constantly asking when is the Presidential Promise going to be fulfilled, because they qualified for the final, and did well to break the 100 x 4 national record. Well they now have it.

But with the Presidential Promise going to some and leaving others, the entire Team Ghana at Tokyo 2020 really feel bad and disappointed.

There were problems and issues at Tokyo, but Team Ghana led by Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah and CDM, Mr. Mike Aggrey as well as the experienced media attaché were able to manage and solve all crisis situations in peace and harmony.

The rest comprising the chef de mission, administrator, medical officers, media attaché, covid liaison officer and federation heads who did not receive hope and pray that President Nana Akufu-Addo will know that his promise to give every member of Team Ghana has not been fulfilled, as everyone played a role in ensuring that Ghana did not come home empty handed.

By Sammy Heywood Okine