THE President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has instructed the Minister of Sports and Recreation (MoSR), Mr Kofi Iddi Adams, to hold the Ghana Football Association (GFA) accountable as Ghana prepares for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The Black Stars would resume qualifiers for the USA, Canada and Mexico 2026 FIFA World Cup with a clash with Chad in Accra, a venue recently approved by FIFA, followed by a game against Madagascar in Morocco.
According to President Mahama, budgets of sports events including these two matches must be scrutinised and made public.
Presenting his State of the Nation (SONA) address to Parliament yesterday, President Mahama said “There will be no secrecy in how much the government spends on the national teams. The budgets presented by the FA and other sports associations must be known by the public.”
According to him, the move falls in line with the decision to reduce government expenditure and waste, adding that “It apply to all sectors of the economy, including the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.”
On the state of sports generally, President lamented over how it has dropped from being a shining example of excellence in Africa, to a critical juncture.
This, he attributed to the pressing structural deficiencies in administration, funding, infrastructure, and talent development.
In line with this, he called for immediate and comprehensive reforms for Ghana to reclaim her rightful place on the global sports stage.
Furthermore, he said infrastructure development remains paramount in government’s strategy to address these challenges.
”The government is committed to refurbishing existing national stadiums, completing youth resource centres, and constructing new sports facilities in underserved regions. We will also prioritise community recreational facilities to foster greater participation in sports at the grassroots level,” he stated.
He also indicated that the government will develop a comprehensive National Sports Policy to align with international norms to accompany an exhaustive review of the Sports Act of 2016 (Act 934) and the rigorous enforcement of the Sports Regulations 2023 (LI 2477).
President Mahama explained that the ministry was renamed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to acknowledge the significance of recreation, adding that “we will launch a National Recreation Day – a monthly initiative centred on community engagement – alongside an annual National Recreation Festival.”
These initiatives, according to him will encourage keep-fit activities and promote active lifestyles, promote traditional games, and strengthen community bonds.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
