President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a sweeping sports and recreation reform agenda aimed at addressing deep-rooted structural deficiencies in administration, funding, and talent development.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, President Mahama acknowledged the decline of Ghanaian sports on the global stage and stressed the need for urgent reforms.

“Immediate and comprehensive reforms are imperative to reclaim our rightful place in global sports,” he declared.

As part of the strategy, the government will develop a National Sports Policy aligned with international standards and conduct a full review of the Sports Act of 2016 (Act 934) and the Sports Regulations 2023 (LI-2477).

Infrastructure development will also take center stage, with a commitment to refurbishing national stadiums, completing youth resource centers, and constructing new sports facilities in newly created regions.

To revamp grassroots sports, President Mahama announced the establishment of a School Sports Authority, which will oversee inter-school competitions and talent identification programs—a key pipeline for nurturing future elite athletes.

“Over 60% of Ghana’s elite athletes have emerged from school sports programs,” he noted.

In a significant move, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been renamed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to emphasize recreation’s role in national well-being.

The President revealed that a National Recreation Day will be introduced as a monthly initiative to promote community engagement, active lifestyles, and traditional games, culminating in an annual National Recreation Festival.

Source: TheDotNews