Sports
School Sports Authority, way to go
The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) held the Golden Jubilee edition of its annual awards last Saturday with the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, as the Special Guest of Honour.
It was a beautiful evening to behold as guests enjoyed the honour of seeing some of the nation’s finest sporting heroes share the same stage, reminiscing the past where they kept sports fans awe-struck with the skill they exhibited in their respective trades.
Alberta Sackey, Adjoa Bayor, Abedi Pele, Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, and the professor, Azumah Nelson were honoured for what they showcased in their active years.
The cheers and applause that filled the auditorium confirmed their status in Ghana sports. These were heroes and heroines that paid their due to Ghana sports.
But a country like Ghana with an avid desire for success continues to demand more from the athletes and officialdom for sporting honours. AFCON glory has eluded football fans for over 20 years despite the fact that Ghana was one of the foremost countries to win it four times.
Boxing has struggled to keep Ghana at the very top after the reign of Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Nana Yaw Konadu, Joshua Clottey, Joseph Agbeko, Richard Commey, and Isaac Dogboe.
Despite the efforts in place to get to the very top, the over 54 federations are struggling with the pace of other countries in the sports space.
This is why one finds Vice President Opoku-Agyemang’s disclosure of the establishment of a School Sports Authority (SSA) very gratifying and pleasing to the ear. There’s no doubt about the fact that the way to the top is by targeting the youth for talent-hunt.
From the basic level to the tertiary/varsity, a lot of talents abound, but the lack of structured sports makes it difficult for the selectors to discover these raw, hidden talents.
The days of ‘Interco’ and Super Zonals seem lost on the minds of people. Meanwhile, the excitement it generated among sports faithful could be compared to some of the high-profile sporting events in Ghana now.
Where we are now is as a result of ‘killing’ sports at the basic level, but the School Sports Authority brings hope.
In the words of the Vice President, the sports and recreation sector was determined to rebuild grassroots systems in the country’s bid to unearth and develop talents to become a force in sports. Central to this was the creation of a dedicated School Sports Authority to oversee athletic programming from the basic school levels through to the universities.
According to her, the School Sports Authority has been tasked to organise regular inter-school and inter-university competitions, drive talent identification, and provide a structured pathway for young Ghanaians.
Indeed, this is the way to go. It could be the launchpad to a bright future in sports for Mother Ghana.
By Andrew Nortey
