There is a dire situation facing more than 300 Ghanaian football fans who were flown by the government to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to support the Black Stars at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The fans are currently appealing with the Ghanaian government for immediate assistance after becoming stranded and supposedly being abandoned.
Situated in Abidjan at the Entree Hotel Memi, these fans assert that they have been denied access to food, water, and appropriate channels of communication with Ghanaian authorities.
They contend that their precarious situation is a result of the high cost of living in Ivory Coast, which has further depleted their resources.
These fans were a part of the delegation that the Ghanaian government sent to back the Black Stars.
Their experience hasn’t been anything like what was promised, though. Their sense of hopelessness and abandonment has increased since they have been unable to get in touch with authorities for help.
The supporters urged the government to step in and give them the assistance they need to safely return home in an interview with Citi News.
One of the backers remarked, “When we started the journey from the Accra Sports Stadium, it has been hell till today. We were even begging for water. We got to Elubo, but the borders were shut because we got there late.
“We had to sleep on the floor all in the name of our dear country Ghana to come and support the Black Stars. They paired us three and four in a room as we got there. When we got to the stadium, some of us were seven minutes to the end of the game because the tickets were given to us late.”
“So please they should come and take us back to Ghana because all of us here, one way or the other we are doing our own thing, we are tired. Other than that we will start mentioning the names of those who brought us here and reveal everything.”
Another said “We were in our homes when they invited us to come and support the black stars. We came, we knew we were going to a foreign man’s land so we prepared ourselves with a few cedis…but since we arrived, nobody has come to even welcome us. We’ve been buying items in CFA with our own money. Now the monies are finished…It is becoming a headache for us. We are begging those who have brought us here.”
In the meantime, the Ministry of Sports claimed that “officials making payment are moving from hotel to hotel” in response to inquiries from Citi News.
“The people are many and they will get to everybody’s hotel. Some were out when the payment got to their hotel. Those in charge will come back and do a mop-up to ensure everyone gets his/her token for feeding.”
