Sports Fund will solve 'lack of money syndrome' - Sports Minister

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah says the “no money syndrome” that has been associated with his ministry will be a thing of the past once the Sports Fund is created.

The minister made mention of this when his Ministry held a one-day stakeholders’ consultation earlier this week to find alternative source of funding sports in the country.

The meeting brought together various eminent sports administrators from academia and the various national federations, including the Ghana Statistical Service and the Attorney-General’s Department.

In May this year, the Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah, inaugurated a 13-member Technical Committee to oversee the creation of a National Sports Fund, led by Deputy Sports Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide.

The committee was tasked to review and put in place an institutional framework that will explore alternative revenue streams aside the national budget that will be used to cater for all the 43 sporting disciplines in the country.

After several meetings, the committee came up with a draft document and shared with the various stakeholders for their input.

Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah said his ministry would put in place appropriate structures and create the enabling environment to promote mass participation of sports.

He said the sports fund was in line with the Akufo-Addo-led government’s social contract with Ghanaians, and when agreed by all, it would be a lasting solution to the perennial cry for funds.

He said his ministry would get a legal framework to make the sports fund work just like the GETFund, Road Fund and Ghana Tourism Fund.

He said the ministry would from next year construct 10 new multi-purpose sports facilities that can cater for about 15 disciplines and also transform the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex to a modern one.

He said the ministry is taking measures to cut cost, adding that they have secured a permanent accommodation for the Black Stars coach and would do similar ones for the other federations.

Members of the committee include Frank Quist (Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports), Robert Sarfo-Mensah (acting Director of the National Sports Authority), Dr Kwame Baah-Nuako (Banker and former Management Member of Kumasi Asante Kotoko) and Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah (Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Youth and Sports).

The other are; Daniel Magnus Rex Danquah (Sports Management Consultant), Kwesi Nyantakyi (GFA President and CAF Vice-President), Dr Kofi Koduah Sarpong (GNPC CEO), and Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah (GOC President).

The rest are Kwabena Yeboah (SWAG President), Madam Sophia Korkor (Legal practitioner), Madam Angela Forson (Management Consultant) and Mr Lawrence Agyinsam (CEO of the Ghana Export-Import Bank).