President-elect John Dramani Mahama, during his campaign tour ahead of the 2024 general elections, unveiled ten policies he would implement in the sporting industry if he won the elections.
The policies range from sporting infrastructure, investment, taxes on football clubs, and transportation issues.
After winning the elections with a massive endorsement from Ghanaians and with his inauguration scheduled for January 7, 2025, the sporting fraternity is expecting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader to honor his promises.
John Mahama’s manifesto policies on sports
1. Local football development: Support the development of Colts, Division One and Two, and the Ghana Premier League by augmenting the salaries of all registered footballers with allowances.
2. Rehabilitation of stadia: Undertake emergency refurbishment of pitches, tracks, and other facilities at our national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, and Sekondi to meet FIFA standards.
3. Standard pitches: Pursue our long-standing policy of establishing international standard stadia in all regions.
4. Promoting sporting events: Build more multi-purpose sports facilities to promote regional sporting events and inter-school competitions as part of our talent development policy.
5. Sports investment: Ensure equitable investments in other national teams, such as women’s football teams, parasports teams, juvenile teams, and lesser-known sports.
6. Enhancing sporting facilities: Upgrade the UEW Sports College into a modern sports university offering training programmes in sports, related medicine, science, and sports management/administration at campuses around Ghana.
7. Extension of sports centres: Establish Sports Centres of Excellence in the northern, middle, and southern zones in collaboration with existing universities and the private sector.
8. Athletics: Support national athletes more consistently to compete internationally and develop post-competition careers and pension schemes to cater for national athletes.
9. Scholarship: Offer scholarships to promising sports talents and invest in the establishment of sports academies in partnership with the private sector.
10. Aid for sports retirees: Support retired sports personalities in pursuing other sports-related careers after an active sporting life.
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