Former
President,
John
Dramani
Mahama,
says
if
re-elected,
his
government
would
increase
funding
and
resources
for
lesser-known
sports.
Former
President
Mahama,
who
is
also
the
National
Democratic
Congress
(NDC)’s
flagbearer
for
the
2024
elections,
made
the
statement
during
a
media
briefing
at
the
Kempinski
Hotel
in
Accra
on
Sunday.
During
the
media
encounter,
former
President
Mahama
announced
plans
to
revive
sports
in
the
country
while
giving
the
best
infrastructure
for
sportsmen
to
prosper.
“We
recognise
that
sports
infrastructure
is
fundamental
to
nurturing
talent
and
promoting
active
lifestyles.
Our
administration
would
invest
in
state-of-the-art
facilities
to
ensure
our
athletes
have
the
best
environments
to
train
and
compete.
“Our
focus
on
grassroots
sports
programmes
would
create
a
sustainable
pipeline
of
athletes
for
the
future.
We
will
support
local
sports
academies
and
provide
resources
to
schools
to
integrate
sports
education
into
their
curricula.
“Ghana
is
home
to
a
diverse
range
of
sports,
and
it’s
crucial
that
we
support
all
of
them.
Our
administration
would
allocate
funds
and
resources
to
promote
lesser-known
sports,
giving
every
athlete
the
opportunity
to
shine,”
he
outlined.
The
former
President
also
stated
the
need
for
grass-roots
sports
development
and
training
programmes
for
coaches
and
sports
professionals.
This,
he
believes,
would
ensure
that
our
athletes
receive
the
best
guidance
and
support
throughout
their
careers.
He
added,
“We
aim
to
bid
for
and
host
international
sporting
events,
showcasing
Ghana’s
talent
and
hospitality
to
the
world.
These
events
will
stimulate
local
economies
and
inspire
our
youth.
“We
will
implement
policies
to
attract
sponsorship
and
funding,
ensuring
that
our
athletes
have
the
resources
they
need
to
succeed
at
the
highest
levels.”
The
NDC
flag
bearer
also
stated
his
intention
to
make
Ghana’s
sporting
facilities
accessible
to
everyone,
including
people
with
disabilities,
and
to
support
professional
athletes.
–GNA