Players of the national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, have called on government to redeem its promise to them following their gold-winning performance at last year's Africa Para Games.

On Tuesday, players and officials of the team held a press conference to appeal to register their displeasure at the neglect meted out to them since emerging winners of the football competition in September 2023.

Ghana beat Morocco 2-1 to secure the country’s first ever gold medal in the event.

For their efforts, the government promised a reward of $2000 per player, but five months on, that pledge has not been redeemed.

"We have been struggling since memorial each and every time," said Ali Jaraa, former Ghana U-17 goalkeeper, and Technical Director for the national amputee football team.

"If the Amputee have to travel, they have to give their problem to the media and beg the authorities before.

"In 2021, it took amputee players to pay for their participation at the Afcon, including the coach, all just to sacrifice for mother Ghana. When we won the trophy and brought it to Ghana. Currently the trophy is with the minister. I think it is unfair," he said.

Ghanaian amputee footballers have a long history of stand offs with the government over bonuses.

In 2021, the team won their first ever African Amputee Football Cup of Nations trophy in Tanzania, before making headlines for their inability to buy return tickets to Ghana. They had purchased one way tickets to the competition on their own, after government told them there was no money to fund their participation.

After winning the trophy, government then intervened to fly them home, where they presented the trophy to the Minister for Youth and Sports.