Ghana: Ghana Athletics (GA) has announced its plans to address concerns raised by members of the national men's 4x100 metres relay team regarding late travel arrangements prior to the World Athletics Relays in Botswana. The team secured their qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing after finishing second in the second-round qualifiers at the recently concluded World Athletics Relays.
According to Ghana News Agency, Benjamin Azamati and Saminu Abdul Rasheed expressed their frustration over the travel plans orchestrated by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. They highlighted issues like fatigue and insufficient recovery time as critical drawbacks that could hinder their performance. Saminu criticized the Ministry on social media, suggesting that the arrangements were inadequate and comparing the situation unfavorably to the treatment received by the national football team, the Black Stars. He specifically pointed out that a 14-hour flight with a 16-hour layover was unacceptable for professional athletes.
Azamati echoed similar sentiments on social media, questioning the fairness of competing against athletes who had arrived well in advance and emphasizing the need for the Sports Ministry to improve its support for athletes.
In a statement, Ghana Athletics acknowledged the athletes' concerns and assumed responsibility for the issues. The Association emphasized the significance of proper preparation for elite performance and assured that they would collaborate with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to address these challenges. They committed to implementing improved systems to prevent future occurrences.