Resetting sports development in Ghana: What's needed to reverse the decline of national teams?

The election of President John Dramani Mahama heralds an exciting chapter for Ghana, with his commitment to steering the nation towards sustained growth and development across all sectors.

For the sports industry, one of the most promising moves has been the realignment of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, now rebranded as the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

This signals a sharp pivot towards more focused, strategic sports development, aligning with the President’s vision to reclaim Ghana’s former glory on both the African and world stages.

In the lead-up to the election, President Mahama articulated a clear roadmap to revitalise the sports sector, offering a glimpse of the transformative change he envisions.

Yet, the reshaping of the ministry raises vital questions about how the government plans to reset Ghana’s sports industry to not only reclaim its past successes but to carve a forward-thinking, sustainable path.

Lack of strategic planning and management

Over the years, sports development in Ghana has been hampered by a lack of cohesive, long-term planning and poor management, despite significant investments in infrastructure. From the landmark Ghana AFCON 2008 to the 2023 African Games in Accra, and the participation of the Black Stars in international tournaments, the country has invested considerable resources into sports.

However, the returns have often been underwhelming, with poorly executed projects that fail to meet expectations.

A striking example of misallocation is the installation of over 100 AstroTurf pitches across the country—many of which have proven to be of questionable value.

These pitches were poorly distributed, with some communities receiving multiple facilities while others had none, leading to a stark imbalance in access.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has consistently fallen short in spearheading national sports planning, instead bypassing its regulatory arm, the National Sports Authority (NSA), to take direct control of national projects.

As a result, the NSA has become a little more than a caretaker, with its facilities often marred by mismanagement.

Resetting the Sports Ministry 

The realignment of the ministry is timely and necessary. If Ghana is to reverse the decline of its national teams and revitalise the sports economy, it must prioritise reform in this crucial sector.

While the decision to separate Youth from Sports is being presented as a focus on youth empowerment, there is a compelling case for ensuring that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation plays a central role in tapping into the country’s vast sporting potential.

With the right focus, the ministry could empower hundreds of thousands of young Ghanaians with sporting talent, potentially generating millions of indirect jobs and fostering widespread community engagement through sports.

On the surface, it may seem that merely resetting the ministry’s role and restoring the NSA’s functions, as stipulated in the Sports Act 2006, could be the cure for Ghana’s ailing sports economy.

However, these steps alone will not suffice. The need for a comprehensive, nationwide sports development plan is paramount.

For sports to thrive in Ghana, it must be integrated into the national development framework. Just as health and education are priorities across the country, so too must be sports.

Nationwide, Ghana is brimming with untapped sporting talent, but unless opportunities to nurture these talents are made available at all levels, they will remain dormant.

Mainstreaming sports development into national planning will ensure that it becomes a key performance indicator for local government entities —Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Each district must develop its own sports strategy, with clear goals and budgets. These initiatives will be monitored and evaluated, with outcomes reported annually in the Ghana Annual Performance Report, compiled by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).-

Critical role of the NDPC 

A clear understanding of the national development planning framework is vital to grasp the potential for sports reform. Since the introduction of decentralisation in 1994, local governments have played a pivotal role in development planning.

The NDPC is tasked with converting government policies and manifesto promises into actionable, measurable outcomes. Every district has the autonomy to design development plans that reflect local priorities, and these plans are crucial in securing funding from the District Assembly Common Fund and other national resources.

For the sports sector, the new government must instruct the NDPC to include sports development as a core component in the national planning framework.

With this, every district will be empowered to develop its own sports agenda, thus decentralising sports development and embedding it in the national fabric.

These district-level initiatives will become part of the broader national sports development strategy, ensuring that sports receive the attention and resources they deserve.

A holistic sports development agenda requires a coordinated effort between the Ministry, the NSA, and the establishment of a National Sports Fund.

These bodies must operate in tandem, each fulfilling its prescribed role—regulating, promoting, and funding sports development.

Additionally, the Ministry and the NSA must work collaboratively to support the establishment of the National Sports Fund, which could be a vital resource for financing grassroots and elite sports programmes across the country.

Sports development should be approached as a strategic project—one that requires dedicated oversight, careful planning, and effective implementation.

New systems and processes must be put in place to ensure long-term success, and this will require a paradigm shift from all stakeholders involved.

Establishing new systems and processes will require strong leadership, visionary policy-making and effective execution.

A project manager for Ghana’s sports sector is an urgent necessity, someone with the vision and expertise to drive change, coordinate efforts, and ensure that sports development is placed at the heart of national progress.

For Ghana to revive its sports industry, the new government must prioritise sports development as a key area of focus.

Mainstreaming sports into the national development framework, coupled with a robust, decentralised approach, will ensure that sports development is no longer an afterthought but a central part of the nation’s growth story.

With the right policies, the right infrastructure, and the right leadership, Ghana can once again emerge as a powerhouse in African and global sports.

The author is a member of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and President of division one side, Skyy FC