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Ghana’s Parliament Salutes Black Queens with ₵100,000 Gift After WAFCON Heroics

Ghana’s Black Queens continued their victory lap on Tuesday with a celebratory stop at Parliament, where lawmakers from the Minority Caucus gifted the team GH¢100,000 in recognition of their historic bronze medal finish at the 2024 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The gesture, announced by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, was met with thunderous applause across the aisle—one of the few moments of bipartisan unity on the parliamentary floor. Afenyo-Markin hailed the donation as a “symbol of national appreciation” for the team’s grit, brilliance, and inspiring performance throughout the tournament in Morocco.

The Queens, fresh from their emotional return to Accra on Monday, were still basking in the hero’s welcome they received at Kotoka International Airport. Adorned in Ghana’s vibrant colours and proudly flaunting their bronze medals, the players were greeted by waves of cheering fans, pulsating traditional drums, and national pride in full display.

Captain Portia Boakye raised her medal high as fans chanted in celebration—a powerful image of resilience after the team’s nail-biting 4–3 penalty shootout victory over South Africa to secure third place. This marked Ghana’s best WAFCON finish in recent memory and a turning point in its women’s football journey.

Earlier that day, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) hosted the team to a celebratory breakfast in Accra. GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku praised the Queens for restoring belief in the women’s game and reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to building a stronger future for female footballers. The event was graced by Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams, GFA Vice President Mark Addo, and head coach Kim Björkegren, who commended the players for their mental strength and unity.

Beyond the ₵100,000 donation, more honours are reportedly in the works, as the Sports Ministry hinted at a national ceremony to formally recognise the team’s achievement and inspire a new era of investment and support in women’s football.

From Parliament’s floor to the beating drums at Kotoka, one thing is clear: the Black Queens have not only earned their medals—they’ve reignited a nation’s passion for the beautiful game.

By Hruna Yakubu Haruna