Saturday, June 21, 2025
No Result
View All Result
Ghana Sports Page
  • LIVE Scores & Standings
  • Other Sports
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
  • GPL Top Scorers
    • 2024-2025 Season
    • 2023-2024 Season
    • 2022-2023 Season
    • 2021-2022 season
    • 2020-2021 Season
    • 2019-2020 Season
  • Statistics
    • GPL History
    • GPL Previous Winners List
    • FA Cup Winners
    • GPL All Time Top Scorers
  • Radio
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Comment Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Videos
    • Contact Us
    • Terms Of Service
  • Ghana Premier League
    • GPL News
    • Transfers
    • Table and Fixtures
  • FA Cup
  • Division One
    • Zone One
    • Zone Two
    • Zone Three
  • National Teams
    • Black Stars
    • Black Stars B
    • Black Satellites
    • Black Starlets
    • Black Meteors
  • Women’s Football
    • Black Maidens
    • Black Princesses
    • Black Queens
    • Women’s Premier League
  • CAF Competitions
    • AFCON
    • CAF Confederation Cup
    • CAF Champions League
    • CHAN TOURNAMENT
    • WAFU COMPETITIONS
  • Europe
    • English Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • La Liga
    • Ligue 1
    • Serie A
    • Transfers
  • UEFA
    • English Premier League
    • UEFA Champions League
    • UEFA Europa League
    • European Championship
  • World
    • FIFA World Cup Finals
    • International
  • LIVE Scores & Standings
  • Other Sports
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
  • GPL Top Scorers
    • 2024-2025 Season
    • 2023-2024 Season
    • 2022-2023 Season
    • 2021-2022 season
    • 2020-2021 Season
    • 2019-2020 Season
  • Statistics
    • GPL History
    • GPL Previous Winners List
    • FA Cup Winners
    • GPL All Time Top Scorers
  • Radio
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Comment Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Videos
    • Contact Us
    • Terms Of Service
No Result
View All Result
Ghana Sports Page
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Kwesi Nyantakyi: How the new Sports & Recreation Ministry can transform the Youth

Martin Tawiah by Martin Tawiah
January 13, 2025
in Featured, GFA, Ghana Premier League, Ghana Premier Leaguee
0 0
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By an Executive Instrument dated 9th January 2025, the Ministries of Ghana, being the bulwark of the architecture of the civil service, were reviewed and re-aligned by President John Mahama, under the Civil Service Act, 1993, PNDCL 327.

The new Ministry for Sports & Recreation

Among the notable changes is the rebranding of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. This review and re-alignment appear well-reasoned, having incorporated input from technocrats with relevant experience and expertise.

It is a transformation that is both timely and promising, offering an opportunity to leverage sports as a tool for empowering Ghanaian youth and driving sustainable development.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2015, the United Nations led the global community in setting 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. A key strategy within this agenda is the deployment of sports as a tool for global peace and development.

Past re-alignments

Since independence, sports in Ghana have been variously aligned with education, science, culture, and youth. The recent alignment of sports with recreation, however, introduces a fresh approach that offers hope and new expectations for the youth.

Sports is predominantly patronised by the youth, making the destinies of youth and sports inextricably linked. For much of the Fourth Republic, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been a dominant feature of this industry.

International best practices

While the United States has no Ministry of Sports, most countries worldwide have government agencies akin to sports ministries. They include France, Turkey, Serbia, Belgium, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Malaysia, Iran, Australia, and Malawi, among others. Many of these countries align sports with youth affairs, following what appears to be the international best practice.

The rationale behind aligning sports with youth is grounded in global principles, including the 37th objective of the UN SDGs, which states:

“Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognise the growing contribution of sport to the realisation of development and peace, in its promotion of tolerance and respect, and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and young people, individuals and communities, as well as to health, education, and social inclusion objectives.”

The correlation between Sports and Youth

Successive governments have designed various programmes and policies towards achieving the UN SDGs. Over 90% of patrons of sporting activities in Ghana are the youth. This youthful demographic reflects the strong correlation between sports and youth development.

Re-alignment of Sports with Recreation

The new alignment of sports with recreation shifts focus from youth to health, well-being, and leisure. Countries like New Zealand, Samoa, and Zimbabwe have similar ministries combining sports with recreation. Ghana’s new Ministry for Youth Development and Empowerment will now serve as a hub for youth-centred initiatives.

Health and well-being are critical to national prosperity. During the tenure of two former sports ministers, Messrs Arnold Quainoo and E.T. Mensah, Keep-Fit Clubs were instrumental in promoting fitness among adults and the middle class.

However, the growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes among younger populations calls for a national fitness initiative.

A designated monthly national fitness day could be a worthy consideration. A national fitness initiative may require the collaboration of the Ministry of Health.

Sports is a big business

Globally, sports has transitioned into a multi-billion-dollar industry, and Ghana is no exception. The new Ministry must acknowledge that sports is no longer a mere recreation but a significant business sector.

In 1993, recognising football’s economic potential, the Ghanaian government partnered with the Ghana Football Association to establish a Professional League Board (PLB), marking a shift towards professionalising premier league football.

Former Sports Minister E.T. Mensah’s mantra, “Sports is a big business,” remains as relevant today as it was over three decades ago. It is not a mere rhetoric.

Several government initiatives towards the achievement of this policy led to two major steps: first, a repeal of the Sports Decree, 1976, SMCD 54, and an enactment of the Sports Act, 2016, Act 934.

The government needs to drive the agenda of commercialisation and promotion of employment and job opportunities in the sports sector.

Benefits of sports

Sports generates thousands of private-sector jobs, especially for the youth.

Though the data surrounding the number of people directly or indirectly employed by the football sub-sector of sports in Ghana, it is estimated that about 20,000 are beneficiaries.

This industry also enables young people to channel their energies productively, reducing the risk of delinquency and fostering a sense of purpose.

In addition to personal development, sports creates job opportunities for young people, spanning various roles such as players, coaches, administrators, and media personnel. The professionalisation of football, for instance, has opened avenues for youth employment and entrepreneurship.

Track and field, arm wrestling, boxing, tennis, table tennis, and numerous disciplines engage Ghanaian youth.

This new Ministry must consider incentives for private investment in sports to expand employment opportunities. Key aspects like professionalism, sponsorship, standards, and regulation require urgent attention to maximise the sector’s potential.

Foreign Exchange Earnings

Beyond recreation, sports is an engine for economic empowerment and a pathway to global opportunities.

I admit we would need the right data to appreciate its contribution to the inflow of foreign exchange into the country, but one cannot deny the fact that since the mid-1980s, Ghana has “exported” a good number of players to clubs in Europe for millions of foreign exchange as transfer fees.

FIFA regulations require five per cent of the transfer fee to be paid to the club(s) that nurture(s) a talent between the ages of 12 and 21.

Hence, the moves made by Abedi Pele, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appiah, Asamoah Gyan (who at one point was the world’s eighth-highest-paid player), Kwadwo Asamoah, Ayew brothers, Anthony Annan, etc., were a direct investment into Ghana’s economy.

When Thomas Partey was transferred from Atletico Madrid to Arsenal for a whopping £50m, five per cent of that money came directly to the clubs that contributed to his development.

Other transfers of Ghanaian football players of repute include Mohammed Kudus, Ibrahim Osman, Kamaldeen Suleman, and Ernest Nuamah, just to mention a few.

These international transfers have generated significant foreign exchange for the nation and for clubs to develop more talent.

When these players return to the country, they are here with foreign exchange. No matter how little, a foreign exchange’s impact on our economy should be appreciated.

Furthermore in 2008, the Ghana Football Association signed a five-year contract of $22.5m with Glo Mobile Limited for sponsorship of the Black stars and Ghana Premeir League.

Infrastructure development

Through the hosting of international sporting tournaments, the infrastructure stock of the country has been enhanced, the most recent being the addition of sporting facilities and roads in Borteyman and the University of Ghana.

Borteyman sports complex served as the hub for African Games 2023

While initiatives like constructing AstroTurf pitches are commendable, more efforts are needed to preserve and expand community spaces for recreation and talent development. For instance, addressing the loss of playing fields in areas like Nima, which has produced football legends like Mohamed Polo and Mohammed Kudus, is essential for sustaining this talent pipeline.

Unity and national identity

This industry holds an unparalleled ability to unite people across political, ethnic, and religious divides. The unwavering support for Ghana’s national teams, particularly the Black Stars, during international competitions, exemplifies how sports foster national unity.

How can anyone forget how Ghanaians stayed awake all night to watch Azumah Nelson’s boxing bouts and rallied behind the national football teams? Sports bring Ghanaians together like no other endeavour.

Ghanaian fans cheer on Black Stars

Another variant of national unity can be promoted through the institution of community, district, regional, and national games across different disciplines of sports.

Research in South Africa has shown that during epic football games between rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, crime rates have dropped significantly because many criminals are at the stadium watching the game.

Tourism and global recognition

Sports promotes Ghana’s image on the global stage, serving as an effective tool for marketing the country. International tournaments have not only showcased Ghana’s sporting prowess but also boosted its tourism and cultural appeal.

The exposure garnered through sporting achievements has elevated the nation’s profile, clearing ambiguities about its identity and distinguishing it from similarly named countries like Guyana.

Through sports, some non-Africans have appreciated Ghana as a sovereign state, separate and distinct from Guyana in Central America. Investments in sports can position Ghana as a leading tourist and investment destination, as seen in countries like Qatar and Morocco.

A shift towards Recreation and Well-being

The alignment of sports with recreation is a novel approach, shifting the focus to health and well-being. Recreational activities such as keep-fit clubs, which thrived in the past, can be revitalised to combat rising lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Designating a national fitness day monthly could further encourage healthy living among Ghanaians of all ages.

The Meadows Community Recreation Centre was part of an ambitious plan to build major rec centre facilities in all corners of the city. (City of Edmonton)

However, this focus on recreation should not overshadow the critical role of sports in driving development. The Ministry of Sports and Recreation must collaborate closely with the newly created Ministry for Youth Development and Empowerment to ensure a balanced approach that maximises the potential of both domains.

Conclusion

The re-alignment of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation is a unique opportunity to harness the transformative power of sports for national development. By prioritising youth development, fostering unity, and tapping into sports’ economic potential, Ghana can achieve sustainable development.

Sports is not just recreation; it is a tool for empowerment, unity, and economic growth. The challenge lies in ensuring that this re-alignment delivers on its promise to transform the lives of Ghanaians while contributing to national prosperity.

source: myjoyonline.com

Martin Tawiah

Martin Tawiah

My name is Tawiah Martin, you can also call me Ktee. I am a trained journalist, broadcaster and a football commentator. I am a graduate of Berekum college of education 2008 to 2011 academic year. I am a former sports presenter at Success FM (90.9) in Goaso and later joined Fox 97.9 FM in Kumasi. I am currently living in China as a professional English teacher . I’ve managed Ghana sports page 1 since 2014. Our main objective is to help promote Ghana sports so Ghanaians living in abroad especially China will fall in love with Ghana sports. Motto: Respect all but fear none. Contact me on 008613045960827

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Blue Captcha Image
Refresh

*

Connect with us

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Breaking News: Tunisia to be replaced by Mali at the World Cup 2022

October 29, 2022
Breaking News: Otto Addo submits Black Stars squad, Jeffrey Schlupp and other eight new names included – Saddick Adams (VIDEO)

Breaking News: Otto Addo submits Black Stars squad, Jeffrey Schlupp and other eight new names included – Saddick Adams (VIDEO)

March 8, 2022
Asamoah Gyan opens up on his conversation with Stephen Appiah after missing penalty against Uruguay

Asamoah Gyan opens up on his conversation with Stephen Appiah after missing penalty against Uruguay

April 14, 2022
AFCON 2021: Ghana makes history, sets new record despite  premature Cup of Nations exit

AFCON 2021: Ghana makes history, sets new record despite premature Cup of Nations exit

January 19, 2022

2020-21 Total CAF Confederation Cup – Groups revealed

48

Asante Kotoko reveal seven players failed to make Dubai pre-season trip

7

Breaking News: CAS adjourns Palmer vs GFA ruling to September 1

4

Highest paid National Team Coaches in Africa; Milovan Rajevac makes top 10

4
Nations FC right-back Victor Oduro completes medical ahead of three-year move with Asante Kotoko

Nations FC right-back Victor Oduro completes medical ahead of three-year move with Asante Kotoko

June 21, 2025
Watch Live: Hearts of Oak vs Accra Lions [ GPL MD 32]

Hearts of Oak coach Aboubakar Ouattara bids emotional farewell as he leaves the club

June 21, 2025
Hearts of Oak and Nations FC in tug-of-war over Golden Kick midfield sensation Bless Ege

Hearts of Oak and Nations FC in tug-of-war over Golden Kick midfield sensation Bless Ege

June 21, 2025
Former Kotoko winger Dickson Afoakwa at the center of transfer tug-of-war as Gold Stars, Vision FC, and Hohoe United battle for his signature

Former Kotoko winger Dickson Afoakwa at the center of transfer tug-of-war as Gold Stars, Vision FC, and Hohoe United battle for his signature

June 21, 2025

Recommended

Nations FC right-back Victor Oduro completes medical ahead of three-year move with Asante Kotoko

Nations FC right-back Victor Oduro completes medical ahead of three-year move with Asante Kotoko

June 21, 2025
Watch Live: Hearts of Oak vs Accra Lions [ GPL MD 32]

Hearts of Oak coach Aboubakar Ouattara bids emotional farewell as he leaves the club

June 21, 2025
Hearts of Oak and Nations FC in tug-of-war over Golden Kick midfield sensation Bless Ege

Hearts of Oak and Nations FC in tug-of-war over Golden Kick midfield sensation Bless Ege

June 21, 2025
Former Kotoko winger Dickson Afoakwa at the center of transfer tug-of-war as Gold Stars, Vision FC, and Hohoe United battle for his signature

Former Kotoko winger Dickson Afoakwa at the center of transfer tug-of-war as Gold Stars, Vision FC, and Hohoe United battle for his signature

June 21, 2025
Facebook Twitter Instagram RSS
Ghana Sports Page

Ghana Sports Page - Respect all but fear none

Read more

About us

We promote Ghana football specifically Ghanaian living abroad to let them feel the zeal about Ghana football. Our main activity is radio broadcasting and online publications. We have a trained sports team such as local news analysts, foreign news presenters, and the local news presenters.

© 2022 GSP - Powered by Emetrics.

No Result
View All Result
  • Live Scores & Standings
  • Live Radio
  • Ghana Premier League
  • GPL Top Scorers
    • 2024-2025 Season
    • 2023-2024 Season
    • 2022-2023 Season
    • 2021-2022 season
    • 2020-2021 Season
    • 2019-2020 Season
  • Statistics
    • GPL History
    • GPL Previous Winners List
    • FA Cup Winners
    • GPL All Time Top Scorers
  • National Teams
    • Black Stars
    • Black Stars B
    • Black Meteors
    • Black Satellites
    • Black Starlets
  • CAF Competitions
    • AFCON
    • CAF Champions League
    • CAF Confederation Cup
    • CAF U-20 AFCON
  • Other Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Boxing
  • World
    • FIFA World Cup Finals
    • International
  • UEFA
    • UEFA Champions League
    • UEFA Europa League
    • European Championship
  • About Us
    • About
    • Comment Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Videos
    • Terms Of Service
    • Contact Us
  • Division One
    • Zone One
    • Zone Two
    • Zone Three
  • Women’s Football
    • Black Queens
    • Black Princesses
    • Black Maidens
    • Women’s Premier League

© 2022 GSP - Powered by Emetrics.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In