Ace broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi has slammed the Minister of Sports, Mustapha Ussif, over his behaviour towards the national amputee soccer team, the Black Challenge.
The Sports Minister rebuked the amputee soccer team for visiting various personalities including ex-President John Mahama following their victory at the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations (AAFCON).
The Black Challenge clinched the trophy by defeating Morocco 2-1 in the final held in Egypt last month.
Since their triumph, the team has paid courtesy calls on some persons and during their meeting with former President John Dramani Mahama, he supported them with $10,000.
But the Minister is unhappy with the donation and scolded the team saying “that cannot be tolerated”.
“Unlike last year when you came here directly, this year you started going from one place to another without even reporting to the government that sponsored you, and that cannot be tolerated.”
“As a national team, once you come, you should know that you’re representing the State”, he said angrily.
Ussif instructed the President of the National Paralympic Committee to provide detailed account of all donations the team has received saying “we will communicate after you have presented all the statements and all that you have received to my office”.
Reacting to the Minister's comments, Sefa Kayi, Presenter of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, found Ussif's attitude disgusting.
He explained events that led to the team receiving Mr. Mahama's donation.
"They won a first one; they are gold medalist but we did nothing for them. They won a second one against the favorite Morocco. The losers, Morocco, have been paid their bonuses and everything. Our amputees have won Amputee AFCON, there was no delegation to meet them at the airport to start with.
"Aside that, they told the Minister to lead them to the President to present their trophy to him even though there was no support but that has turned into another thing. Today, the Minister is like I am busy, tomorrow I'm going to constituency...On a certain Wednesday that they were to meet the Minister, he told them he's going somewhere, so the meeting was called off," he narrated.
He expounded; "Former President Mahama called them or secured audience with them. When they went, come on it's campaign season, so they gave them 10,000 dollars and promised to take good care of them if elected President. After the matter came out, you, the Minister, is angry."
Sefa Kayi wondered why the Minister purportedly never cared about the amputees, stating "they have won three consecutive trophies, nothing has happened. Nothing!"
