Sports
Developing sports with manifestoes
Ghana must at least be at the apex of football, globally in the next decade or so, if manifestoes of the two major political parties in Ghana are anything to go by.
The elections are a little over four months away and expectedly, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) are making a lot of promises to solve problems in the sports sector that have existed for ages.
Clearly, some of these problems have just been ignored even when the two parties were in power and in good positions to address them.
The fact that solutions are now being proffered from left, right to centre suggests how important the quest to wield power is to a politician.
DrMahamuduBawumia, Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), kick-started the football played in manifestoes with the announcement to establish a Sports Development Fund to develop young talents when elected to office on December 7.
At the party’smanifesto launch at the Ghana Secondary Technical School in Takoradi, he explained how the fund would develop sports infrastructure, talents, and grassroots sports programmes, including the revival of colts football and leagues across the country.
A government under DrBawumia is also expectedto upgrade the surfaces of the football pitches in Kumasi, Accra, Cape Coast, Legon, Tamale and Essipun to meet international standards.
The NPP will also build six 5,000-seater capacity stadiums for the new regions and provide busesfor Premier League Clubs.
DrBawumia would also supervise the establishment of a Ghana School Sports Secretariat to create more opportunities for young people in sports and collaborate with international sports bodies like the NBA and NFL to make Ghana a hub for emerging sports in Africa.
He would also start an “Operation Olympics Glory” programme by dedicating resources towards the preparation and readiness of athletes towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.
Few days later, NDC responded in an acrobatic style as its candidate, John DramaniMahama, pledged to undertake emergency refurbishment of pitches at the various national stadiums if it wins power in the December 7 elections.
“We’ll pursue our long-standing policy of establishing international standard stadia in all regions, build more multi-purpose sports facilities to promote regional sporting events and inter-school competition as part of our talent development policy.”
The manifesto also revealed the party’s intentions to augment the salaries of all registered footballers with additional allowances.
“We would ensure equitable investments in other national teams, such as women’s football teams, parasports teams, juvenile teams, and lesser-known sports.
“We would upgrade the UEW Sports College into a modern sports university training programmes in sports, related medicine, science, and sports management/administration at campuses around Ghana.”
These pledges may come as greatand mouthwatering news for the ‘football people’because they are geared more towards football.
It, however, leaves question marks over what would be done to bridge the huge gap between football and other sports.
Bostwana has become a model sports nation for Africa in recent times following the exploits of Lestile Tebogo at the just ended Olympic Games held in Paris.
The young athlete silenced the American and Jamaican sprinters at the showpiece, a feat he repeated at the 2024 Diamond League.
A tiny Island like St. Lucia had an athlete on the podium following an excellent performance from Julian Alfred in the female sprints.
These were gains from proper investments in sports over the years and not just football.
Upgrading our pitches, making available more playing centres, improving the league and the many others outlined by the NPP and NDC are laudable, but Ghana would be worse off if the over concentration on football does not change.
By Andrew Nortey
Defending Ghana Premier League champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, will chase revenge against Asante Kotoko when they lock horns in a top Match day 19 fixture at the Bibiani Dun’s Park today.
The hosts lost the first-round fixture 2-0; however, they currently sit second on the league table, with a point above the Porcupine Warriors, in fourth place.
Following a pulsating goalless draw with Berekum Chelsea at home last week, a result that sent shockwaves through the Reds’ camp and sparked rumours about the future of Head Coach, Karim Zito, today’s game will serve as a major test for the technical team.
In Tema, Vision FC will test the mettle of league leaders, Medeama SC, when they welcome them to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex.
Having opened a five-point gap at the summit of the log, Medeama is looking to extend their lead with a victory today.
Ibrahim Tanko acknowledges the challenge in Tema will be different, but trusts his ‘lieutenants’ to do a good job.
After playing out a goalless draw with Asante Kotoko last week, Coach Samuel Boadu’s Berekum Chelsea will return to their Golden City Park base to host Swedru All Blacks in what locals have dubbed a ‘must-win’ game.
Lying 16th on the league log with 19 points, fans of the ‘Bibires’ are hoping their resurgence begins as they fight to climb the table.
In other games, Karela United will remain at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium to host Samartex FC, while the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex host the clash between Nations FC and Aduana FC.
Bottom-placed Eleven Wonders will visit the Kpando Stadium as guests of eighth-placed Heart of Lions; Young Apostles would be at Wenchi Sports Stadium to play host to relegation-threatened Hohoe United, while Basake Holy Stars welcome Bechem United to the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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Despite the absence of Ghana at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, the country featured in conversations around the tournament from start to finish; or at least the semifinal stage.
Interestingly, not many of the countries that participated in the championship did enjoy that leverage.
Surfing either traditional, social or new media, Ghana’s name has featured prominently in several conversations, courtesy of an intense rivalry between Ghana and brothers, Nigeria.
This is because fans of the two countries have attempted to give reasons to support qualification or otherwise to AFCON.
Ghana’s failure to qualify for the AFCON was attributed to weakness, and the fact that the Black Stars have not been good enough.
Ghanaian fans, however, responded by placing bigger premium on the FIFA World Cup 2026 which Nigeria Super Eagles has failed to qualify.
So, for followers of the Black Stars, The World Cup is for the ‘big boys’, a category too strong for the Super Eagles.
This interesting ‘banter’ has dominated a few sports shows on both local and international networks with Ghanaians openly declaring support for opponents of the Super Eagles in the 2025 AFCON.
Personally, I asked a few for their reasons and the response was quite humorous. “If Nigeria wins the AFCON, Ghanaians would be dead on social media,” one said.
A Nigerian blogger also warned: “If Nigeria wins AFCON, Ghanaian soccer fans would run away from TikTok.”
At this point, one was forced to accept the social media war between soccer fans of Ghana and Naija.
A few Nigerian bloggers and content creators even reminded Ghanaian fans of their ‘brotherliness’ and the need to support each other as West Africans to keep the trophy in the face of the North African challenge.
Interestingly, the Ghana-Nigeria rivalry has transcended beyond sports and ventured into areas of hospitality where both countries are claiming to be better than the other as far as preparation of ‘jollof’ was concerned.
In an attempt to win over Ghanaian fans, a few bloggers posted videos admitting for the sake of peace, that Ghana ‘jollof’ was better.
But the protest by fans over the appointment of Ghana’s Daniel Laryea as the referee gave a new dimension to the relationship between the two sets of sporting rivals.
It started with concerns why a West African referee was appointed for such crucial tie between a West African nation and a North African opposition.
That subject changed to the assumption that since Ghanaian fans were against the Super Eagles, Referee Daniel Laryea could do their bidding by giving Nigeria a raw deal.
However, Daniel Laryea made the entire nation of Ghana proud with a solid performance in the match watched across the globe.
Many factors contributed to make the game a tensed one; host nation performing in front of thousands of home fans plus a hungry Nigerian side that was bent on causing the biggest upset of the competition.
Definitely, these circumstance could extend to affect the match officials. That notwithstanding, Daniel Laryea proved to the whole world he has what it takes to occupy the same office with some of the top referees in football.
He commanded discipline among the players; there was calm on both benches despite a few disagreement over decisions – but football is like that.
Every sincere fan that watched the game closely would admit that Daniel Laryea’s performance was one of the best in the competition and must be commended rather than condemned.
Clearly, Laryea settled the ‘jollof’ rivalry with a commanding display. What is left now is how the Black Stars keep the ‘jollof’ title delivered by Laryea in Ghana with a fine performance at the World Cup because the Nigerian fans would be following closer than they think.
By Andrew Nortey
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