Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah, has said that grassroots sports development must remain at the centre of the Ghana Sports Fund if
The report indicates that acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah, has stated that grassroots sports development must remain at the centre of the Ghana Sports Fund if the country hopes to build a sustainable sports economy and develop future talents.
It further notes that speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, May 22, Mr Ampofo-Ankrah stated youth and community sports development were essential to the long-term vision of the fund.
Responding to a question about how central grassroots sports were to the initiative, he described it as “absolutely critical”.
“It’s central, it’s absolutely critical,” he said.
According to him, proper structures and due processes must first be established to ensure the Sports Fund becomes sustainable and effective in the long-term.
“The structures obviously, due processes have to be followed, and that shouldn’t be a hindrance. It’s better to make sure the pillars are very firm.”
“So when we do start mobilising and moving forward, we don’t have to go back and take things back, rather keep things moving forward, and the grassroots is very important,” he explained.
Mr Ampofo-Ankrah stated Ghana must intentionally invest in young talents from an early age if the country wants to compete globally and benefit economically from sports development.
He pointed to Morocco as an example of how deliberate investment in sports and youth development can transform a country.
“I keep talking about Morocco because when the Moroccans decided to say sports is a pillar for development in the country, they used education and sports,” he stated.
According to him, Morocco’s long-term investment in sports over the past three decades has made the country a major sporting hub both in Africa and internationally.
“Morocco is now a hub not just for African sports but globally,” he said.
He added that Morocco’s progress has now positioned the country to co-host the next FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain.
“That takes remarkable thinking, vision, and years of planning,” he said.
