The Chief Director at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, William Kartey, has said that the government is committed to injecting funds into physical exercises for citizens to stay healthy.
According to him, the ministry’s name was changed to include ‘recreation’ in order to ensure that the government prioritises recreational sports, physical exercises, and the entire sports ecosystem.
Speaking at the ‘May Day SWEAT Fest’ physical exercises event held at the Dansoman Karikari AstroTurf on May 1, 2025, Kartey thanked the organisers of the event and promised government support.
“The executive instrument that changed the name from Youth and Sports to Sports and Recreation is meant to direct more focus on the sports ecosystem as a whole. Not just professional sports, but also to promote recreational activities for the well-being of citizens, as well as a means of developing grassroots sports to improve social cohesion and stimulate local economic development. Participation in sports and physical activities provides direct benefits in tackling lifestyle diseases, thus reducing healthcare costs.
“One important objective of the redesignation of the ministry is to position Ghana to be able to tap into the multi-billion-dollar global sports economy. With a current estimated value of $700 billion, which is expected to grow to $1 trillion, as we exercise and perform physical activities and engage in various sporting activities, we are assured that the government is committed to creating an environment that supports healthy lifestyles,” he said.
The President of Functional Fitness League Ghana, Charles Owusu Ansah, indicated that his outfit looks forward to bringing on board keep-fit clubs and gyms to extend exercise across the nation.
“It’s about promoting a healthy lifestyle nationwide among Ghanaians. Currently in Ghana, non-communicable diseases are taking over the population. We believe that when the right system is put in place, which includes exercise and proper nutrition, and when we educate people from the grassroots and they understand the concept of exercise, some of these diseases will not affect our bodies.
“This campaign is launched to go around and educate the masses about the need for and importance of exercise and the benefits they will derive from it. What we did today was at the community level. We will pick another day to do the regional level, and then we will start going national,” he added.
The ‘May Day SWEAT Fest event’, which was bankrolled by High Protein Recovery, saw numerous individuals gather to exercise their bodies and enhance their health status.
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