Isaac Asiamah
Minister for Youth and Sports Isaac Asiamah says it is high time sports development in the country is esteemed rather than promoting it.
To the sports Minister, his observation since assuming office has been sports promotion to the detriment of its development.
That, he indicated, should be reversed to ensure that the country benefits from sports development.
He mentioned in a Sports Fund Consultative Forum in Accra yesterday that in developing sports lies the potential for national development.
And citing Cuba as a classical example, where he visited recently, the sports chief pointed out that, sports is considered a compulsory subject from first, second cycle institutions through to the tertiary levels.
As a result, he has tasked the academia and stakeholders to join the campaign to esteem sports which hitherto has been considered by many as recreation.
The MP for … said the Sports Fund primarily seeks to find a lasting solution to challenging sports in the country, hence the formation of a 13-member committee to ensure its operations.
He gave the assurance that as part of plans to walk the talk, multi-purpose youth centres for 15 disciplines would be established across the country to provide sport platforms for the youth.
“Local content development is key, and that is what the Ministry seeks to do. Since we assumed office, 90% of the requests that come to us are promotional.
“Sports contributes immensely to national development, and that is why we have engaged the academia so our children in schools would be conditioned to take it serious,” said the Minister.
In like manner, Deputy Sports chief, Pius Hadzide and National Sports Authority boss Robert Sarfo Mensah in separate addresses described sports as an industry with the huge potential to impact nations.
Ghana 2008 Chief Operating Officer, Magnus Rex Danquah, Moses Foh- Amoaning, Dr Owusu Ansah, advisor to the Minister, Dr Bella Bello Bitugu, University of Ghana Sports Directorate boss and officials of the Ghana Statistical Service were among speakers who graced the event.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum