Mahama reiterates pledge to build regional stadiums, new authority for school sports
President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated the pledge by his government to build a standard sports stadium in every region and to establish a School Sports Authority with its own budget to support young athletes across Ghana.
The President made the announcement at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, when the University for Development Studies (UDS) football team paid a courtesy call after their victory at the World University Football Games.
Mr Mahama said the two initiatives form part of efforts to strengthen youth and university sports systems under the government’s RESET agenda.
“We are setting up the School Sports Authority, which will concentrate on sports from the basic to the secondary and university levels,” he explained.
“It will have a separate budget and will hold constant competitions among universities and secondary schools so that we can identify talents early and bring them into the national teams.”
The President said the Authority will create a structured pathway for identifying and nurturing sports talent nationwide, serving as a bridge between schools and professional sports. He added that government was also investing in sports infrastructure across the country.
“One of the things we are doing is to build a standard sports stadium in every region with all the facilities, so that schools and other sports talents can always have access to proper training grounds,” he said.
Mr Mahama stressed that sports and recreation were part of the RESET agenda aimed at promoting unity, discipline, and youth employment.
“Our goal is to develop a new ecosystem where sports is seen not only as entertainment but also as a sector that contributes to Ghana’s economic growth,” he said.
The President spoke after commending the UDS football team for winning the World University Football Games by defeating Brazil in the finals.
He praised the players’ discipline and teamwork, noting that their victory proved that Ghanaian youth could excel globally when given the right opportunities.
Mr Mahama announced a GH¢500,000 cash reward for the team in recognition of their success. “We will not let you go empty-handed. This is 500,000 Ghana cedis to be presented to Professor Seidu Al-Hassan. It is a reward to the team for the good job you have done,” he stated.
He urged the players to remain humble and focused on both their education and sports careers. “Let this victory be the foundation, not the finish line. Continue to train with humility, discipline, and ambition so that you can win many more laurels,” he said.
Mr Mahama concluded by reaffirming his government’s plans to make sports a driver of development.
“The story of your victory can be turned from Tamale to the world stage. You brought glory to Ghana and renewed faith in the power of young people, education, and sports to transform lives,” he said.
