The Board Chairperson of the Ghana Sports Fund (GSF), Prof Koryoe Anim-Wright, has allayed concerns that the Ghana Sports Fund (GSF) would focus primarily on the Black Stars at the expense of other sporting disciplines.
But she stated that “The GSF will support all sports, athletes, as well as federations, and not become a Black Stars fund.”
Prof. Anim-Wright gave the assurance when she led a delegation, including the Chief Executive of the GSF, Dr David Kofi Mawuvi Wuaku, his deputy, Mr Simon Appiah, Deputy Director Vida Adombiri-Naba, head, Corporate Affairs and Communication Ivy Priscilla Setordjie and others, to call on the national executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), yesterday.
The meeting was to discuss and establish a strong, strategic relationship between the two bodies to achieve the fund’s mandate.
The engagement was also aimed at introducing the Fund’s mandate, vision, mission and priorities, as well as identifying practical areas of collaboration while promoting greater understanding, visibility and accountability in sports financing.
According to Prof Anim-Wright, the GSF has been established to provide sustainable funding for sports development and sport for development, as well as facilitate transparency and accountability in resource mobilisation and management in sports.
She disclosed that the eligible beneficiaries of the Fund include a national athlete; a federation or an association in good standing with the National Sports Authority (NSA); a retired national athlete; and any other person approved by the Board.
“Act 1159, which established the GSF, requires that the Board develops an allocation formula that has to be approved by the relevant parties. If the Board says 15 per cent is going to a particular federation, only 15 per cent is allocated to that federation.”
“There’s a system in place to protect every federation and to ensure that no one gets more than the other. So, be rest assured that everyone will get a piece of the pie in a manner that is commensurate with their commitment and the responsibilities they undertake.”
For his part, Dr Wuaku said the coming on board of the GSF was a timely opportunity to change the narrative on sports for development in the country.
“This is an opportunity to create an economy and a great chance for generations to come to see sports as something even better than working in a gold mine. Sports is the fastest-growing economy in this world today, and if we do it very well, it will be a very proud institution that all Ghanaians would be willing to run to.”
He therefore tasked the media to offer constructive scrutiny and help promote and build public confidence in the Fund.
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Dominic Hlordzi, applauded the GSF and its Board for the engagement and for throwing light on their mandate.
He noted that the onus lies on the media to positively promote the activities of the GSF to help it attract the much-needed resources.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
