Ghana risks IWBF sanctions - Needs US$77,000 for African Championship

The technical handlers of the Ghana Wheelchair Basketball Federation (GWBF) have appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, assist the Federation to mobilise resources towards the nation’s participation in the African Wheelchair Basketball Championship slated for South African in November this year.

The Federation has up to September 15 to raise US$77,000, comprising registration fee, camping and allowances for officials and players, to enable the nation to participate in the competition.

The competition will serve as a qualifier to the 2018 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Hamburg, Germany.

Mr Yao Wilson Agbesi, the Secretary-General of GWAF, said that was necessary since failure to participate in the upcoming competition could result in sanctions.

“We are likely to face a two-year ban from all international wheelchair basketball competitions, plus an additional fine if we fail to meet this deadline,” he told the Graphic Sports, Kumasi, on the sidelines of the National Sports Festival.

Mr Agbesi disclosed that a budget had been submitted to the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the National Sports Authority but, “as of now, the federation was yet to receive any positive response from the government”.

“Time is not on our side and we have to work around the clock as a nation to meet the deadline,” he noted, stressing that an amount of US$9,000 was currently needed to register for the competition while the rest caters for the other expenses.

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Mr Elvis Alipui, head coach of the GWBF, further explained that failure to participate in the competition could also affect Ghana’s chances of getting the West African Wheelchair Basketball Federation Secretariat situated in the country as planned by the IWBF.

Mr Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe, General-Captain of the GWBF, was worried over the seeming neglect of wheelchair basketball in the country and called for a change in attitude to help improve the situation.

“We are ready to make our nation proud, and at this crucial stage we will need the help of all, including corporate bodies and philanthropists”.

Meanwhile, the Brong-Ahafo Region has made it to the grand finale of the men’s wheelchair competition at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Kumasi to play Greater Accra.

They beat hosts Ashanti 35-10, defeated Central 24-14, and also accounted for Upper West 84-2, one of the humiliating scorelines to be recorded at the Festival. Northern Region will play Ashanti in the third place match.