NPP Manifesto: Bawumia suggests 10 solutions to major sports problems in Ghana 

The Flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, over the weekend launched his Manifesto for the 2024 Elections, dubbed 'Bold Solutions'.

As the title of the manifesto suggests, it offers 'bold solutions' to current problems in different sectors by Dr. Bawumia in his quest to transform the country. 

In the sports sector, Bawumia identified 10 problems currently facing the sports sector, including funding, poor development, high taxes, among others, which his manifesto has proposed solutions to. 

Below are 10 sports problems and 10  proposed solutions by Dr. Bawumia;

1. PROBLEM: inadequate funding for sports

SOLUTION: a statutory sports development fund to ensure sustainable funding.

2. PROBLEM:  lack of corporate support and investment in sports

SOLUTION: provide tax incentives to corporate institutions to woo them to invest in sports.

3. PROBLEM: high taxes on football clubs and sports entities such as VAT.

SOLUTION: a lower flat tax rate to football clubs and sports entities.

4. PROBLEM: Salary burden on Premier League clubs.

SOLUTION: support the payment of players' salary through policy direction with the NLA and the Gaming Commission, as Bawumia Government's direct support to the Ghana Premier League, clubs and players. 

5.  PROBLEM: Unreliable transportation issues for Premier League Clubs

SOLUTION: Provide Premier League clubs with a bus each, as a form of direct support to clubs. 

6.  PROBLEM: Poor grassroot sports development.

SOLUTION: establish the Ghana School Sports Secretariat, with dedicated funding, to ensure effective and school-based grassroot sports development, in collaboration with the GES and Sports federations.

7. PROBLEM: poor preparations towards the Olympic Games

SOLUTION: initiate the Operation Olympic Games Glory programme in 2025 to prepare Ghanaian athletes for the 2028 Olympics, with a special focus on some disciplines Ghana has competitive advantage. 

8.  PROBLEM: lack of development in emerging or alien sports in Ghana

SOLUTION: Collaborate with international sports bodies like the NFL and NBA to develop and promote these sports in Ghana, just as Bawumia is already doing with the NFL.

9. PROBLEM: inadequate sports infrastructure

SOLITION: continue the expansion of sports infrastructure by the Akufo-Addo government, by completing unfinished projects,  construct standard stadium in Sunyani and  in each of the six new regions, as well as expand the astro turf projects to cover constituencies without astro turfs.

10. PROBLEM: poor maintenance of sports facilities

SOLUTION: institute an effective maintenance module to ensure that national, regional and community sports facilities are  managed and maintained well.