The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has called on President-Elect John Dramani Mahama to prioritise sports funding and policy development as part of his administration’s broader agenda for national growth.
In a congratulatory statement signed by SWAG President Kwabena Yeboah, the association highlighted key areas that require urgent attention, including increased funding for sports, grassroots development and creating employment opportunities within the sector.
“We urge the president elect to increase funding for sports development, develop a comprehensive sports policy, support grassroots sports development, create sports employment and make the sports sector a major part of the local economy,” read the message.
The SWAG statement emphasised that such bold investment in the sports sector has the potential to unlock the vast talents of the Ghanaian youth, promote national unity and generate significant revenue for the country.
Acknowledging John Dramani Mahama’s pre-election engagements with major sports stakeholders – including SWAG, the statement described his commitment as a positive step toward transforming the sports landscape in Ghana.
SWAG reaffirmed its commitment to working with the next government to ensure that Ghana’s sports sector receives the attention and investment it deserves.
The sector has been plagued with some chronic systemic challenges that have brought retrogression to the development and performance at all levels.
With challenges such as chronic under-investment, poor administration practices, corruption and abandonment of grassroots talent development characterising the sector, the public, especially key stakeholders in sports, are optimistic of some meaningful changes influenced by sound policies – with the change in government.
The NDC’s 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.
SWAG believes these are sound policies that will be significant to talent development and the promotion of sports economy in general.
