Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku has donated GH¢50,000 to Ghana’s national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, ahead of the 2026 World Amputee Football Federation World Cup in Mexico.

He has also pledged a special poultry enterprise package for the team’s eight locally based players after the tournament.

The package will include battery cages, laying birds, feed and technical expertise under the government’s Nkoko Nketenkete poultry programme.

Opoku announced the support when he visited the team during a training session at the University of Ghana. He was accompanied by Deputy Minister John Dumelo, the ministry’s Chief Director and its budget officer.

“You are going to hold the flag of Ghana, and our presence here indicates that the whole nation is behind you,” he told the players.

The minister said the team needed both motivational and financial support ahead of the international assignment and urged the players to compete with confidence.

“You are stronger than you know,” he said, encouraging them to make Ghana proud.

The GH¢50,000 donation follows a GH¢100,000 contribution from dancehall artiste Stonebwoy, bringing the combined contributions from the two to GH¢150,000.

Opoku said he had been informed that the team comprised eight locally based players and seven players based in Turkey.

He invited the eight players in Ghana to join the government’s Nkoko Nketenkete poultry programme after the World Cup.

“The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is putting together a special package, so as soon as you return, get in touch with us,” he said.

“The Honourable Dumelo will handle all of you.”

Outlining the proposed package, Opoku said the ministry would provide cages, laying birds, feed and technical expertise to help the players establish poultry businesses.

He said the intention was for the players to “have something to live on”.

Nkoko Nketenkete is the household and backyard poultry component of the Feed Ghana Programme, launched by President John Dramani Mahama.

The players have been asked to contact the ministry after returning from Mexico to begin arrangements for the proposed support.

Ghana have been drawn in Group D of the 2026 World Amputee Football Federation World Cup alongside Angola, Colombia and Iraq.

The tournament is scheduled for 13–22 November in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, with 24 national teams expected to compete.

“You have the full support of the entire citizenry of this country,” Opoku assured the players.