Former Black Princesses coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has publicly stated that players from the 2016 squad that qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup are still owed the majority of their qualifying winning bonuses nearly a decade later.
Speaking on Asempa FM, Dramani said the team has received payment for only one of the four qualifying bonuses due since he guided them to the tournament in Papua New Guinea. Players continue to contact him seeking his help in securing the outstanding amounts.
He stated: “As I speak with you now, since 2016 when I sent the Black Princesses to the World Cup, they have only paid one of four qualifying winning bonuses. I still receive their calls about their unpaid bonuses because they feel that I should be someone who can push for it.”
He added: “They still call me about their unpaid bonuses because they feel I should be someone who can push for it. Why is it like that? It is not supposed to be so.” Dramani further criticized the lack of communication from authorities, noting that officials should at least acknowledge the situation even if immediate payment is not possible.
Dramani, a former coach of clubs including Hearts of Oak, led the Black Princesses through the African qualifiers for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The team defeated opponents including Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, and Ethiopia to secure qualification. At the finals in Papua New Guinea, Ghana finished bottom of their group after being drawn with France, the United States, and New Zealand, earning two points from draws against France and the US following a loss to New Zealand.
Reports from the period and later accounts indicate that players were entitled to winning bonuses for the qualifying matches. Later player statements commonly referenced amounts around $2,000 per win, leading to totals of roughly $12,000 per player across the campaign, of which only a portion was paid.
This is a long-running issue. In August 2020, reports noted that the 2016 squad was still awaiting outstanding qualifier bonuses. An initial $4,000 payment linked to the Senegal match had been made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in January 2017 after player appeals, leaving an outstanding $8,000 related to the remaining matches. Ministry officials at the time indicated the matter would be addressed but provided no firm timeline.
Former players have repeatedly raised the matter publicly. In 2022, ex-captain Kate Adu Agyemang stated that the team had received only $4,000 of $12,000 due and called on the Sports Ministry to pay the balance, noting petitions had gone unanswered.