The leader and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Mahama, has bemoaned the current state of sports development in the country, which recently forced the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to place a ban on Ghana’s main stadia. He has, therefore, promised to change the narrative when elected president on December 7, 2024.
In the “Resetting Ghana” manifesto of the NDC, the party noted that though Ghana was once a force to reckon with in African sports, it has now become a pale shadow of itself.
“From the heights of African football dominance to consistent appearances at World Cups, amid impressive performances, Ghana now struggles to compete with relative minnows in the sport and has suffered embarrassing exits from recent international competitions.
Our proud track record in athletics, boxing and hockey, among others, lies in ruins. Chronic under-investment, poor administration, corruption, out-moded infrastructure and abandonment of grassroots talent development have accounted for the current state of affairs,” said Mr Mahama.
Proposed solutions to reset the situation
To address the situation, he has given an assurance that he would implement far-reaching policies that would put Ghana back among the ranks of elite sporting nations in Africa and beyond if elected.
The next NDC government shall thus focus on systematic long-term support for sports with a comprehensive National Sports Policy to guide the development of the following.
Sports infrastructure, sporting talents and human resource, sports governance and administration ethics, life-long participation and inclusivity, sports for economic and social development.
It would also include a framework for the implementation of the African Union’s Sports Agenda 2063 and the SDG Sports-Related Goals.
Sports Infrastructure Development
If elected, the NDC has planned to undertake emergency refurbishment of pitches at our national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast and Sekondi, to meet FIFA standards.
Additionally, the party desired to pursue its long-standing policy of establishing international-standard stadia in all regions and provide for an equitable geographic spread of infrastructure for the development of sporting talents in all districts.
Also, the NDC proposed in its manifesto to build more multi-purpose sports facilities to promote regional sporting events and inter-school competitions as part of its talent development policy.
Upgrading of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Sports College into a modern Sports University to offer training programmes in sports, related medicine, science and sports management/administration with campuses around Ghana, will be high on the priority table of Mr Mahama.
To rejuvenate the dwindling fortunes of sports, Mr Mahama has promised to establish Sports Centres of Excellence in the northern, middle and southern zones, in collaboration with existing universities and the private sector.
To develop a strategy in partnership with the private sector to provide community sporting facilities to stimulate talent development is another policy the party would implement.
Sport Talents and Human Resource Development
In the manifesto, the NDC promised to adequately support the development of colts, division one and two and the Ghana Premier League by augmenting the salaries of all registered footballers with allowances.
It also planned to diversify interests and investments into other sports disciplines beyond football and boxing by injecting reasonable resources into other competitive sporting activities including beach soccer, volleyball and regatta.
It also intended to ensure equitable investments in other national teams such as the women’s football teams, disability sports, football teams, juvenile teams and other lesser-known sports.
The party has again planned to establish a School Sport Development Agency to focus on developing young talents and promoting physical fitness among young people.
Hold biennial capacity-building programmes and sporting clinics for technical teams, especially women and persons with disabilities to pursue careers in sports administration and management;
Offer scholarships to promising sports talents, encourage sporting personalities to invest in pension schemes while in active service, revive Schools and Colleges Sports at all levels, including Primary and Junior High schools, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Support retired sports personalities to pursue other sports-related careers after an active sporting life and promote community teams and competitions in various sports.
