Agric Minister backs Black Challenge with cash and Agribusiness pledge

Minister of Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku has provided GH¢50,000 to Ghana's national amputee football team, known as the Black Challenge, and committed to establishing an agribusiness opportunity for eight players. The donation comes as the team prepares for the 2026 World Amputee Football Federation World Cup in Mexico. The proposed package includes battery cages, laying birds, feed, and technical guidance.

Deputy Minister John Dumelo will be responsible for coordinating the support once the players return from the tournament. Opoku emphasized that the support is intended to help the athletes build businesses and contribute to the country's food production. The ministry plans to follow up with the eight players based in Ghana after the World Cup, inviting them to join the government's Nkoko Nketenkete poultry program.

This initiative aligns with the Feed Ghana Programme, which aims to enhance food security, support household incomes, and increase domestic production. By extending this support to the Black Challenge, the ministry is acknowledging athletes with disabilities as potential entrepreneurs and producers, potentially setting an example for cooperation between sports institutions and agricultural agencies.