Gaborone: The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has clarified that it does not arrange flights for athletes, following complaints from Ghana's 4x100m relay team. After the team secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing with a time of 38.09 seconds, Benjamin Azamati and Abdul Rasheed Saminu raised concerns about inadequate logistics support and poor travel arrangements to Gaborone, Botswana.
According to Ghana Web, the ministry explained in a statement released on May 4, 2026, that travel arrangements are the responsibility of the athletics association and that international competition protocols cannot be blamed. It emphasised that grievances should be directed to the association, while the ministry's role is only to facilitate the process.
The statement from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation addressed recent public comments by members of Ghana's men's 4x100m relay team and the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) regarding travel and preparation arrangements for the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. It clarified that arrival timelines and competition preparation schedules are determined by federation engagements and international competition protocols, not by the ministry.
The ministry further explained that its role is to facilitate the procurement of travel arrangements in line with the approved schedule, based on recommendations from the National Sports Authority and the relevant federation. Specifically, for the World Athletics Relays, the ministry did not alter the travel schedule as submitted by the Ghana Athletics Association.
In concluding its statement, the ministry commended the athletes for their qualification and reiterated its commitment to strengthening ties with federations to better prepare athletes. It expressed its continued support for all national teams within established procedures and its intention to work with the National Sports Authority and federations to enhance coordination and ensure optimal preparation conditions for athletes. The ministry also extended its best wishes to the team for their performance and qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.