Former Ghana long jumper Ignisious Gaisah has stated that he has no regrets whatsoever that he switched nationality to Holland adding that the nation could be at risk of losing more of its local track and field stars to other countries if the Sports Ministry does not invest in athletics and motivate the athletes.

“When a country somewhere in Europe shows an interest in an athlete that if you compete for me, I am going to pay you every month, who wouldn’t go? When someone chooses to be a professional athlete, that’s what the person uses to make a living so the country that he or she is representing has to show appreciation because athletes pay their own coaches, physiotherapists and buy their own food supplements,” Gaisah mentioned.

“In the end when they represent Ghana, they don’t get anything and the little that you have to get, you have to fight over it. So, if they want they (Sports Ministry) wants the athletes to stay there and compete for Ghana, then they must invest in athletes,” he added.

Just eight months after Gaisah resigned from the Ghana track and field team to compete for Holland, heptathlete Margaret Simpson has also filed for a dual citizenship in Italy and Mauritius, with intentions of representing either of the two nations.

Both athletes have decided not to compete for Ghana after registering their displeasure at the poor treatment meted out to national athletes by the Sports Ministry and its reluctance to pay their winning bonuses from the 2012 Africa Athletics Championship.

Margaret Simpson is owed US$5000 for winning gold at the continental event staged in Porto Novo.