The Minister of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Dr Mustapha Ahmed has assured Ghanaians that all sporting disciplines receive equal attention under his tenure.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Citi Sports, Dr Mustapha revealed his determination to defy the odds and overcome the myth surrounding the ministry.
Alhaji Dr Mustapha is the 11th man to lead the ministry under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
Myth at Sports Ministry
There are conspiracies surrounding the ministry that makes it extremely difficult for any minister to last longer there.
“There obviously a lot of work to do in the ministry especially policies to enhances youth development and in the same time keep an eye on all the sporting disciplines,” the Minister said.
“As for working long in this ministry, I will institute regular meetings to ensure transparency with directors and Chief executives of the national sports authorities the Ghana Football association etc to ensure that we are all on the same page.”
“The essence of the meetings is to ensure that we continue briefing each other on the happenings of the ministry and any new ideas to help promote the youth and Sports in the nation.”
Black Stars
One team that will stretch the minister beyond his elastic limit will be the Black Stars, Ghana’s pride, the pride of Africa which was magical in the 2006 and 2010 world cup.
The Sports Ministry is said to have been reduced to the ministry of Black Stars with Ministers travelling with the team to tournaments and even friendly games, most often relegating concentration on other sporting disciplines.
Dr Mustapha promised there will be an equal share of the national cake on all sporting disciplines.
“Obviously the Black Stars are the embodiment of the football loving Ghanaians and therefore I stand to reason that when they are playing the entire nation is waxed behind them and that makes the ministry seem to focusing on the Black Stars. But I believe that we need to give equal attention to the other disciplines and I will try to ensure that.”
Improvement of facilities
The Minster said he has so far “visited some regions to inspect the facilities especially in some district capitals to see how we can help.”
“It’s a process and we will need the help of every one to ensure that we take sports where we want to.”
Boxing
In the past Ghana produced legendary boxing icons like Ike Quartey and the Great professor Azumah Nelson.
Now the gap has widened even more than the distance between America and Ghana, despite the boxing prowess at Ga Mashie and beyond.
Ministers have promised in vain a modern day gymnasium but that has been left unfulfilled.
Dr Mustapha said: “I guess the people of Ga Mashie have been deprived but I will assure them that government is working round the clock to ensure they get a modern day gymnasium. We are almost at the tail end of the drawing board and once we conclude we will give the people of Ga Mashie a modern day boxing arena.
Youth empowerment
The Ministry covers both youth and Sports but the reality is that most of the talents in schools are not discovered due to state of the Inter-School competitions.
Some are highly talented sports men and women were discovered in the Schools and Colleges games popularly known as (INTERCO) was introduced.
But sadly they have been reduced to fun games.
Some schools discourage student from partaking in the sporting activities.
“Obviously, matters concerning youth are of high importance to government and that is why matters of the youth have been segmented with Sports and sometimes with education.
“But we will look to help deprived youth to give the leadership training entrepreneurship training. But I have spoken to some experts on how we can promote some athletics and we are working daily to ensure that we regain our comparative advantage when it comes to sprint athletics. We are trying to rejuvenate the spirit of athletes in this country.”
With tomorrow not promised we take the words of the minister as golden and wish him well knowing that the herculean nature of the ministry demands the minister has the malleable nature to combine both the physical and psychological demands of what has become the hot seat of the 4th republic.
–
By: Rahman Osman/Citi Sports