Ghana’s 4x100m Relay Team Secures World Championship Spot Amid Logistical Turmoil in Botswana

Ghana’s men’s 4x100m relay team has achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the World Athletics Championships for the fourth consecutive time. Despite a series of logistical failures that nearly derailed their campaign at the World Relays in Botswana, the team displayed remarkable resilience on the track. Finishing second behind China with a time of 38.09 seconds, the squad—anchored by Joseph Paul Amoah and featuring stars like Benjamin Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu—secured automatic qualification for the upcoming global showpiece in Beijing. Joseph Paul Amoah praised his teammates for their professionalism under pressure, noting the team’s ability to rebound from a difficult opening day without the safety net of a reserve athlete.

However, the success of the team has been heavily overshadowed by reports of severe travel complications and poor administrative support. Sprinter Ibrahim Fuseini was notably absent from the event after a sequence of mishaps, including receiving flight notifications at the last minute and being denied boarding during a visa dispute with an airline, despite holding a valid Ghanaian passport. Other athletes, including Benjamin Azamati, reportedly had to rely on private sponsors to manage travel arrangements, while Edwin Gadayi arrived as a late replacement under immense time constraints. The situation drew sharp criticism from Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, who highlighted the lack of financial incentives for representing the nation and the unnecessary stress caused by jet lag and late arrivals.

In response to the growing public outcry, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (MoSR) issued a statement clarifying its role, asserting that it does not directly determine travel schedules. The Ministry explained that it merely facilitates logistics based on recommendations provided by the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) and the National Sports Authority. Meanwhile, GAA President Bawa Fuseini defended the association's practices, explaining that flight tickets are often purchased shortly before competitions to account for final entry windows and the varying preparation levels of athletes. He noted that while this strategy is intended to avoid last-minute withdrawals, it can be complicated by unexpected changes in athlete times or airline issues.

While the qualification is a testament to the athletes' talent and strategic coaching adjustments, the incident has reignited a national debate regarding sports funding and organizational accountability in Ghana. The team’s ability to perform at a high level despite these administrative hurdles remains a point of pride, but stakeholders are calling for a fundamental overhaul of how national teams are managed. As the athletes prepare for the African Athletics Championships in Accra later this month, there is a clear demand for more robust support systems to ensure future successes are not jeopardized by avoidable administrative failures.