Ghana’s national deaf football team, the Black Wonders, face the devastating prospect of missing both the inaugural Deaf African Football Cup of Nations (DAFCON) and the 2027 Deaf Football World Cup after a funding crisis forced desperate appeals to President John Dramani Mahama and other senior government officials.

With the 16-nation African championship scheduled for November 30 to December 13 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Black Wonders are racing against time to secure financial support after reportedly being informed by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation that no funds were available for their participation.

The stakes extend beyond continental glory. DAFCON 2026 doubles as Africa’s qualification tournament for the Deaf Football World Cup in Australia next November, meaning Ghana’s absence would effectively extinguish their hopes of competing on the global stage.

Drawn alongside Mali, Kenya and Zanzibar in Group D, the Black Wonders now face their biggest battle away from the pitch.

The Ghana Deaf Football Association (GDFA) has petitioned President Mahama, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin; Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Iddie Adams; and the team’s patron, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, seeking urgent intervention.

GDFA President, Christopher Ekpo, has accused successive governments of neglecting deaf football, questioning why the national team continues to struggle for basic support while other representative sides receive state funding.

“Are deaf people not Ghanaians?” Mr Ekpo demanded, expressing frustration over what he described as persistent discrimination against deaf athletes.

“We deserve to be treated as human beings and as citizens of this country. We will continue to fight until our needs are met, and we are given the equal treatment we deserve to travel, compete and bring honour to our nation.”

The association’s petition paints a troubling picture of years of alleged institutional neglect, including unpaid tournament expenses, inadequate equipment and restricted access to national sporting facilities.

It claims the Black Wonders are routinely charged to use National Sports Authority (NSA) facilities, although an intervention by NSA Deputy Director-General, Veronica Commey, recently eased their difficulties.

The association also alleges that despite submitting annual programmes and budgets, government financial support has remained virtually non-existent.

According to the petition, the team’s operating budget is approximately 10 times smaller than those of Ghana’s other national football teams, yet even that comparatively modest requirement remains unmet.

The players, it adds, often depend on personal contributions from officials to purchase jerseys, while previous international successes have attracted neither financial rewards nor adequate recognition.

The association recalled its ordeal ahead of the 2023 Deaf Football World Cup, when intervention by Dr Agyeman-Rawlings reportedly secured just 20 air tickets for players and officials.

Outstanding debts from that campaign remain unpaid, despite subsequent appeals to the ministry, the petition claims.

For the forthcoming DAFCON, the association says it submitted its budget to Minister Adams in April but has yet to secure the necessary funding.

Mr Ekpo also challenged the minister to honour his commitment during parliamentary vetting to promote inclusive sports development rather than concentrating resources on established national teams.

Despite continued lobbying by Dr Agyeman-Rawlings, the Black Wonders remain uncertain whether they will travel to Ethiopia.

Their petition carries a pointed message to Ghana’s political leadership that equal citizenship must translate into equal opportunities to represent the country.

“We demand inclusion as Ghanaians and not to be treated as second-class citizens,” the association declared.