Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has unveiled his manifesto for the 2024 elections, titled ‘Bold Solutions’.
The manifesto outlines ambitious plans to address critical issues across various sectors, notably transforming the sports sector.
Bawumia’s manifesto identifies ten critical challenges currently affecting sports in Ghana and proposes targeted solutions to address each issue.
Here is a summary of the problems and proposed solutions in the sports sector under his prospective presidency:
Inadequate Funding for Sports
Solution: Establish a statutory sports development fund to ensure sustainable funding.
Lack of Corporate Support and Investment in Sports
Solution: Introduce tax incentives to encourage corporate investment in sports.
High Taxes on Football Clubs and Sports Entities
Solution: Implement a lower flat tax rate for football clubs and sports entities.
Salary Burden on Premier League Clubs
Solution: Support player salaries through policy collaboration with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and the Gaming Commission, directly supporting the Ghana Premier League, clubs, and players.
Unreliable Transportation for Premier League Clubs
Solution: Provide each Premier League club with a bus to aid transportation.
Poor Grassroots Sports Development
Solution: Create the Ghana School Sports Secretariat with dedicated funding to enhance school-based sports development in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and sports federations.
Inadequate Preparation for the Olympic Games
Solution: Launch the Operation Olympic Games Glory programme in 2025 to prepare Ghanaian athletes for the 2028 Olympics, focusing on disciplines where Ghana has a competitive edge.
Lack of Development in Emerging Sports
Solution: Collaborate with international sports organizations like the NFL and NBA to promote and develop emerging sports in Ghana.
Inadequate Sports Infrastructure
Solution: Continue expanding sports infrastructure by completing ongoing projects, constructing a standard stadium in Sunyani and each of the six new regions, and expanding astro turf projects to constituencies lacking them.
Poor Maintenance of Sports Facilities
Solution: Implement an effective maintenance model to ensure proper management and upkeep of national, regional, and community sports facilities.
Dr Bawumia’s manifesto aims to tackle these challenges head-on, focusing on enhancing support, infrastructure, and development within Ghana’s sports sector.
