The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called on leaders within the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to intensify efforts to safeguard athlete welfare, safety and comprehensive medical screening, insisting that no sportsman or woman should suffer unnecessarily because of the discipline they choose to pursue.

Addressing management and staff of the ministry and its allied agencies during a working visit, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that athlete-centred policies must remain at the heart of sports development.

“No athlete should be made to pay an unreasonable price for choosing a sporting career,” she emphasised, underscoring the need for proper medical screening and structured welfare systems.

The Vice-President welcomed proposals to strengthen the Ghana Sports Fund and urged the ministry to adopt innovative approaches to resource mobilisation. She noted that these should include the development of revenue-generating sports facilities, efficient infrastructure management, the strategic exploitation of broadcast rights, and the adoption of sustainable funding models beyond the traditional reliance on government support.

She commended the sector for its growing contribution to enhancing Ghana’s international image, observing that global recognition often comes not only from technological or scientific achievements, but also through sporting excellence.

“Sports is very, very important for us. It raises the image of our country and creates pride among our people,” she said.

Working visit

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made the remarks when she paid a working visit to the ministry as part of efforts by her office to strengthen coordination across ministries, departments and agencies, close communication gaps and gain first-hand appreciation of ongoing work.

She was received by the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, together with management, staff and heads of agencies under the ministry.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s sports sector, the Vice-President urged the ministry to prioritise quality delivery, teamwork and people-centred governance as part of efforts to enhance the nation’s image and improve citizens’ welfare.

She congratulated Mr Adams on marking a year in office, stressing that the successes recorded so far were the product of collective effort rather than individual achievement. She also paid tribute to the often-unrecognised public servants and citizens whose quiet contributions form the backbone of government work.

Beyond competition, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the broader social value of sports, describing it as a vital tool for promoting health, wellness, discipline, teamwork and strong human relations.

Women, funding and accountability

The Vice-President expressed satisfaction with the increasing visibility and contribution of women in sports and indicated her interest in engaging more closely with women’s groups to better understand how their work could be supported.

Responding to concerns over delayed fund releases, she assured officials that the Presidency was reviewing common challenges across ministries to ensure targeted and effective interventions.

She further urged the ministry to align its programmes with the government’s manifesto commitments and called for clear mandates, strategic planning and regular performance reviews within the four-year governance framework.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang assured the ministry and its agencies of continued support from the Presidency and encouraged early engagement with the Cabinet when preparing policies to ensure smoother approval processes.

Reforms, achievements

For his part, Mr Adams underscored the need for expanded sports infrastructure, particularly in underserved communities, to ensure equitable access for young talents nationwide.

He advocated Public-Private Partnerships alongside sustained government investment and called for greater clarity in the management of state-owned sports facilities.

On policy reforms, he announced plans to align Ghana’s National Sports Policy with global standards on athlete welfare, digitalisation and safeguarding. He also revealed intentions to amend the Sports Act, 2016 (Act 934), pass the National Sports College Bill, revitalise grassroots and school sports, and operationalise the Ghana Sports Fund through a tiered funding system for the country’s 56 sports federations.

Mr Adams outlined an impressive list of international competitions hosted by Ghana under the Exceptional Sports Performance programme, including the CAF African Schools Football Championship finals, WAFU Zone B Under-20 Men’s Championship, ITF World Junior Tennis Circuit, CAF Zone 3 Under-17 Beach Volleyball Nations Cup.

He said the ministry’s strategic priorities were firmly aligned with preparations towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2026 Women’s AFCON in Morocco, 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and other major competitions.