The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has donated GH¢50,000 to Ghana’s national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, to support its preparations for the 2026 World Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
In addition to the financial contribution, the minister has pledged to support eight Ghana-based players to establish poultry businesses under the government’s Nkoko Nketenkete programme, as part of efforts to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the athletes beyond their football careers.
The package is expected to include battery cages, laying birds, poultry feed and technical assistance to enable the beneficiaries to set up and manage their poultry enterprises.
Mr Opoku announced the donation and the proposed support package during a visit to the team’s training session at the University of Ghana. He was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, the ministry’s Chief Director and its budget officer.
Addressing the players, the minister encouraged them to remain focused, believe in their abilities and approach the tournament with confidence as they prepare to represent Ghana on the international stage.
“You are going to hold the flag of Ghana, and our presence here indicates that the whole nation is behind you,” he told the team.
He urged the players to give their best during the competition, expressing confidence in their ability to make the country proud.
“You are stronger than you know,” he said.
The minister’s GH¢50,000 donation provides additional financial support for the Black Challenge as the team intensifies preparations for the global tournament.
The contribution follows a GH¢100,000 donation by Ghanaian dancehall artiste Stonebwoy, bringing the combined support from the two individuals to GH¢150,000.
Mr Opoku stressed the importance of providing the team with both financial assistance and moral support, noting that the players would be representing the country at a major international sporting event.
He said their participation present an opportunity to showcase Ghana’s sporting talent and demonstrate the determination and resilience of its athletes.
The minister’s visit forms part of efforts to encourage collective support for the team ahead of the competition.
Beyond the immediate financial support, Mr Opoku announced plans to help eight Ghana-based members of the Black Challenge establish poultry businesses after returning from the World Cup in Mexico.
He explained that he had been informed that the team comprised eight players based in Ghana and seven others residing in Turkey.
The minister subsequently invited the locally based players to benefit from the government’s Nkoko Nketenkete poultry programme, assuring them that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would develop a special package for them.
“The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is putting together a special package, so as soon as you return, get in touch with us,” he said.
He indicated that Mr Dumelo would coordinate the process to facilitate access to the promised support.
According to the minister, the package would cover battery cages, laying birds, poultry feed and technical expertise required to establish and operate the businesses.
The initiative is expected to provide the beneficiaries with an alternative source of income, helping them support themselves and their families while contributing to domestic poultry production.
The commitment also highlights the importance of creating economic opportunities for athletes beyond their active sporting years, particularly by equipping them with the resources and technical support needed to develop sustainable businesses.
The proposed intervention will link sports development with agricultural opportunities by giving the players access to resources to venture into poultry farming.
The Nkoko Nketenkete initiative forms part of the broader Feed Ghana Programme, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, which seeks to strengthen domestic food production, improve food security and enhance household incomes.
Extending the programme to members of the Black Challenge would provide an opportunity to support athletes with disabilities through an agricultural enterprise initiative.
The success of the proposed businesses will, however, depend on effective implementation, access to appropriate facilities, technical guidance and sustained support to help the beneficiaries manage their poultry operations.
The initiative could also contribute to the government’s broader efforts to expand local poultry production and create employment opportunities.
By combining immediate support for the team’s World Cup campaign with a longer-term economic empowerment commitment, the ministry is seeking to address both the sporting ambitions and livelihood needs of the players.
Ghana’s Black Challenge are scheduled to compete in the 2026 World Amputee Football Federation World Cup in Mexico from November 13 to 22.
The team has been drawn in Group D alongside Angola, Colombia and Iraq, with 24 national teams expected to compete for the title.
As preparations continue, the minister’s intervention provides financial assistance for the team’s immediate needs while offering a proposed pathway towards business ownership for the eight Ghana-based players.
The beneficiaries are expected to contact the ministry after returning from Mexico to facilitate arrangements for the poultry enterprise package.
Mr Opoku reaffirmed the country’s support for the team, reminding the players of the responsibility they carry as representatives of Ghana.
“You have the full support of the entire citizenry of this country,” he assured them.
The minister’s pledge underscores the importance of supporting the Black Challenge not only in their quest for international success but also in their efforts to build sustainable livelihoods beyond the football pitch.
By 1960news.com
