Veteran Ghanaian coach Joseph Emmanuel Sarpong has advised the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to prioritise projects that discover talents in rural areas, which could aid in the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
He stated that his tour of some rural areas made him realise there are numerous brilliant sports talents waiting to be tapped due to a lack of opportunities.
The coach urged the government to prioritise unearthing talents in rural areas through school competitions, which could help mitigate the menace of illegal mining activities.
“I believe there are talents out there. In the Upper East and northern sectors of the country, I’m not surprised that we can find top talents. They’re hiding there, and someone needs to guide them to come forward.
“Some of them end up as farmers or diggers, which is why many turn to galamsey. It’s a fact that these people want to survive. If the authorities can focus on that side, galamsey will stop,” he said during Sports Check on GhanaWeb TV.
Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has vowed to enhance school sports activities at the basic level to identify more talents.
Meanwhile, watch part 2 of Sports Check with veteran coach JE Sarpong
SB/MA
