In a bold pledge, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has unveiled plans to establish a dedicated agency aimed at fostering the advancement of sports within the nation, should he secure the presidency.
The proposed initiative, outlined by the Vice President, aims to unite various stakeholders in a collaborative effort to rejuvenate and elevate the sporting landscape of Ghana.
Acknowledging the stagnation that has plagued Ghana’s sporting arena, particularly in disciplines such as football and track and field, Dr. Bawumia remains optimistic that his proposed agency will herald a new era of success and growth in the realm of sports.
“My government, as part of a broad sports development vision, will establish the Ghana School Sports Secretariat, which will be an agency under the ministry responsible for sports, in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the GES and sports federations,” he said on Wednesday.
Additionally, Dr. Bawumia emphasized his intention to forge partnerships with international sports organizations, aiming to create opportunities for young Ghanaian talents to harness and showcase their abilities on a global platform.
“My government will also seek school-level collaboration with international sports bodies like the NBA and NFL to make Ghana a hub for these emerging sports in Africa, to create more opportunities for young people,” he continued.
“We have already tried this with the NFL, the governing body for American Football, which agreed to host in Ghana, in 2022, the first ever NFL Flag Football in Africa after my engagement with them.
“This paved the way for 10 young Ghanaians to be selected to the United States to represent Africa in a global NFL tournament last year. Another set of young Ghanaians, who were picked after the 2nd NFL Africa Football was also held in Ghana last year, are currently in the United States to represent Africa.”
