Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced a groundbreaking shift in sports funding if he assumes office. Speaking on February 7, 2024, as part of his vision for Ghana, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the need for a new approach to unlock the full potential of sports in the country.

Identifying inadequate and unsustainable funding as a major impediment to Ghana’s sports development, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the importance of sports as a multi-million dollar industry and a vital catalyst for youth empowerment. He underscored the necessity of departing from the traditional funding model that has been in place since independence.

In his vision for sports development, Dr. Bawumia pledged to prioritize policies, tax adjustments, and other incentives to attract increased private and public investment. The focus will be on creating a sustainable funding model through corporate sponsorship to support national teams in various sports such as football, athletics, and boxing.

The proposed strategy aims to alleviate financial pressure on the government while facilitating redirected support to other sports disciplines. Dr. Bawumia also outlined plans to establish a School Sports Secretariat, an agency under the Ministry responsible for Sports, to drive grassroots sports development in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and sports federations.

In summary, Dr. Bawumia’s proposed sports funding approach seeks to revolutionize the financing of sports development in Ghana, with an emphasis on sustainability, increased private and public investment, and targeted support for grassroots sports.