President John Dramani has assured Ghanaians that the budget of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) will no longer be a secret.
According to him, government spending on sports would be made public because Ghanaian taxpayers deserve to know.
Speaking before Parliament on February 27, 2025, in his State of the Nation Address, the President explained that budgets and unaccounted-for expenditures in the sports sector would no longer be tolerated.
“There will be no secrecy in how much the government spends on the national teams,” President Mahama declared.
“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.”
He expressed disappointment in the current performance of the senior national team.
The senior national team, he said, was now “a pale shadow of their former glory,” and stressed the need for accountability from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as the team prepares for its upcoming World Cup qualifiers next month.
“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.
According to him, the government will initiate steps to restructure sports governance. President Mahama announced that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had been renamed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, highlighting a broader vision for sports participation at all levels.
A National Recreation Day and an annual National Recreation Festival will be launched to encourage healthy lifestyles, grassroots engagement, and the promotion of traditional games, he added.
“The reduction in government expenditure and waste reduction applies to all sectors of the economy, including the Ministry of Sports and Recreation,” he affirmed, signalling a broader crackdown on wasteful spending in sports administration.
President Mahama said that his administration would also establish a School Sports Authority, which will oversee structured inter-school competitions and talent identification.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
