BY Nadia Ntiamoah
More than a decade after helping Ghana qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, former Black Princesses midfielder Kate Adu Agyemang has renewed calls on football authorities to honour outstanding bonus payments owed to the 2015 qualifying squad.
In an emotional appeal shared through a video now circulating on social media, Agyemang publicly petitioned the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Sports Ministry, and other relevant authorities to settle what she describes as a long-overdue obligation to the players who represented the nation with distinction.
Unpaid Bonuses Dating Back To 2015
According to Agyemang, each member of the 2015 Black Princesses World Cup qualifying team is still owed $8,000 in bonuses, despite the passage of more than 11 years since the team earned qualification for the global tournament.
“I am making this video to petition, to remind the Ghana Football Association, the President of the Ghana Football Association, the Minister of Sports, that if they have forgotten that they still owe the 2015 women’s qualifying team to the World Cup, then this is a reminder petitioning them to do what is right by us,” she said.
She emphasized that while the amount may appear modest to authorities, it remains significant for the players who sacrificed time, personal development, and in some cases education and career opportunities to serve the nation.
The 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup
The Black Princesses qualified for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which was hosted in Papua New Guinea.
At the tournament, Ghana competed in a challenging group featuring France, the United States, and New Zealand.
Although the team finished bottom of the group, they managed two points—drawing against France and the United States and losing narrowly to hosts New Zealand.
Kate Adu Agyemang featured in all three matches, playing a key role in the campaign on the world stage.
A Lingering Issue In Ghanaian Football
The unpaid bonuses have become part of a wider pattern of unresolved player compensation disputes in Ghanaian football, particularly within the women’s game.
Over the years, several national team players have complained about delayed or unpaid allowances and bonuses, despite their contributions to international competitions.
