I don’t regret leading revolt at Commonwealth Games - Botsyo Nkegbe

Team Ghana’s captain and Paralympian at the recently ended 2018 Commonwealth Games, Botsyo Nkegbe is without regrets after threating to go on a demonstration in Gold Coast, Australia.

Botsyo Nkegbe spearheaded a commotion at the Games village after he sent an audio into a Whatsapp platform threating that he would advise athletes to boycott the games and personally facilitate athletes to run away from camp.

The demonstration came to the frontline after it was unveiled that management had not fully paid the seventy two Ghanaian athletes their $2,300 (being $100 per diem for 23 days) per diem.

In an interview captured by Ghanaweb TV on Team Ghana’s arrival from the Commonwealth Games at the Kotoka International Airport, Botsyo Nkegbe said he took the best decision as the leader of the team after all efforts to get their monies fell on deaf ears of the management.

“It was my voice, if you passed through all the necessary channels to get your voice heard about the athletes you are leading and all failed, you definitely need to find a way. We did all we could, we won the appeal, we talked to the leaders but the results were not coming and the athletes need their money.

He added that, “I being a leader, you hear a lot of worse things about me because my voice was stronger. I am a leader who wants things to happen, because the athletes deserve what is due them, it’s someone’s pension pay and for four years someone might not be there after retirement, if it comes to necessity we have to put our voice there. Coming out to fight for their rights, once they’re happy, I’m also happy.”

The Paralympian was remorseful for articulating his demands in anger and also expressed his excitement after all 72 athletes returned to Ghana safely with none fleeing out of camp contrary to what he said earlier on.

“Sometimes when you’re talking out of anger or frustration you say something that may not go down well with fans or people looking up to you, I know I spoke some words but I’m happy that all the athletes are back home safely and nobody run away or got missing”.

Team Ghana were unable to fulfill their promise of winning five medals at the games and only managed to win a bronze medal thanks to boxer Jessie Lartey.