“There will be no secrecy in how much the government spends on the national teams” – Mahama

By making sure that every cedi allotted to national teams and athletic events is made public, President John Mahama has pledged to eliminate the government’s practice of keeping sports expenditures secret.

The days of mysterious budgets and unreported spending in the sports industry were finished, the President emphasized in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on February 27, 2025.

“There will be no secrecy in how much the government spends on the national teams,” President Mahama said.

“The budgets presented by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and other sports associations must be known by the public. After all, it is the taxpayer’s funds that are used to fund these activities.”

His comments coincide with significant structural inefficiencies facing Ghana’s sports industry, which was once a dominant force in football, boxing, and athletics.

As the team gets up for its next World Cup qualifying matches next month, the President emphasized the need for accountability from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and acknowledged the Black Stars’ deteriorating performance, referring to them as “a pale shadow of their former glory.”

“I have instructed my Office and the Minister to hold the GFA accountable to the people of Ghana as we prepare for these games, especially regarding the budget the FA has presented for the two matches,” he stated.

The government is making big moves to reorganize sports governance beyond football. In order to emphasize a more comprehensive vision for sports participation at all levels, President Mahama announced that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had been renamed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

To promote traditional games, grassroots involvement, and healthy lifestyles, a National Recreation Day and an annual National Recreation Festival will be established.

“The reduction in government expenditure and waste reduction apply to all sectors of the economy, including the Ministry of Sports and Recreation,” he affirmed, signaling a broader crackdown on wasteful spending in sports administration.

The creation of a School Sports Authority is another important project that will be in charge of talent spotting and organized interschool contests.

The President underlined that more than 60% of Ghana’s top athletes came from school sports programs, highlighting the necessity of reinvesting in the growth of sports at the grassroots level.

Plans for his government continue to focus heavily on infrastructure.

In underprivileged areas, the government has pledged to build new sports facilities, finish youth resource centers, and renovate old stadiums.

Mahama promised that the public will closely monitor the implementation of these initiatives.

Many people applauded President Mahama’s audacious position on sports spending transparency, especially in light of years of claims of financial mismanagement in the industry.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com