Three time Paralympian, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe has renewed his appeal for equitable investment in the country’s para-athletes, arguing that consistent success on the global stage has not been matched by consistent backing from Home.
The three-time Paralympian spoke to journalists in Glasgow after finishing eighth in the men’s 1500m T54 final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, clocking 3:48.41.
Botsyo said para-sport athletes were not seeking favourable comparison with Ghana’s more heavily funded disciplines, including the national football team, the Black Stars, but were instead asking for a fairer share of the resources available to Team Ghana as a whole.
We just need an equal share of the cake.”
He pointed to a string of recent results as evidence that para-sport delivers value regardless of the scale of investment behind it, citing performances from teammates Zinabu, Ahetor, Tahiru and para swimmer Promise as proof that para-athletes continue to punch above their weight on the international stage
Botsyo, who has represented Ghana in wheelchair racing for two decades, said he would rather see resources committed upfront than rewarded only after success. He described a hypothetical arrangement in which the nation invested substantially in an athlete’s preparation and equipment ahead of competition, with a comparatively modest bonus following a gold-medal performance, as a more meaningful demonstration of support than the reverse.
He added that he had personally funded his own racing equipment throughout his career, and said he hoped recent assurances from government officials about future investment in athletes would be followed by concrete action rather than remaining at the level of pledges.
Botsyo credited Samson Deen, President of the African Paralympic Committee and Ghana’s National Paralympic Committee, with providing tangible support to athletes at the Games, including pocket money and management assistance during Ghana’s preparations and stay in Glasgow.
He described that support as a source of motivation for the squad heading into competition and beyond, as athletes look ahead to preparations back home.
Ghana’s para-sport contingent has featured prominently across multiple disciplines at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with wheelchair racing, para athletics and para swimming among the events in which the country has fielded competitors in Glasgow.