The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched its manifesto for the 2024 election, outlining far-reaching policies it intends implementing to restore Ghana to the ranks of elite sporting nations in Africa and beyond.
With challenges such as chronic under-investment, poor administration practices, corruption and abandonment of grassroots talent development characterising the sector, the current state of sporting performance at international level and local sport infrastructure quality is dejecting.
The NDC stressed that 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; hence the need for such far-reaching policies to bring transformation.
Its new sports development plan to be implemented when elected, dubbed the ‘Comprehensive National Sports Policy’ (NSP), includes pursuing the long-standing policy of establishing international standard stadia in all regions; building more multi-purpose sports facilities to promote regional sporting events and inter-school competitions as part of its talent development policy; and offering scholarships to promising sports talents while investing in establishing sports academies through partnership with the private sector.
The NDC mentioned policies such as supporting the development of Colts, division one and two and the Ghana Premier League (GPL) by augmenting the salaries of all registered footballers with allowances; establish sports centres of excellence in the northern, middle and southern zones in collaboration with existing universities and the private sector; and undertaking emergency refurbishment of pitches, tracks and other facilities at our national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast and Sekondi to meet FIFA standards, among others.
“The next NDC government shall thus focus on systematic long-term investments in sports under a comprehensive National Sports Policy (NSP) to guide the development of sports infrastructure, sporting talents and human resource, sports governance and administration ethics, life-long participation and inclusivity, sports for economic and social development,” stated NDC.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, speaking at the Manifesto launch in Winneba over the weekend, highlighted that the party aims to substantially improve sports infrastructure, foster talent development nationwide and provide balanced support to all national teams.
“We will ensure equitable investments in other national teams: such as women’s football teams, parasports teams, juvenile teams and lesser-known sports,” he said.
The NDC also mentioned that it will support retired sports personalities in pursuing other sports-related careers after an active sporting life, and also upgrade the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Sports College into a modern sports university offering training programmes in sports, related medicine and science.
Transformation of the sporting sector and talent development is attainable if key highlights such as the promise to create sports academies across the country, ensure every region gets a FIFA standard multi-purpose stadium, scholarships for outstanding talents and centres of excellence in the three zones, among others, are implemented to the letter and administrative theft is curtailed.
