By Iddi Yire
Accra, Oct 07, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has announced Government’s plan to establish a National Schools Sports Authority, which will oversee, promote and regulate competitive sports and physical activities among schools in the country.
“We are setting up the School Sports Authority, which will concentrate on sports from the basic level to the secondary level to the university level.
“And so it’s going to have a separate budget, and it will hold constant competitions amongst universities and secondary schools, so that we can identify the talents early and bring them into the national teams.”
President Mahama made the announcement on Tuesday in his remarks at the Presidency in Accra, when Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, the Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) presented to him the 2025 International University Sports Federation (FISU) University World Football Trophy.
In addition, the Ministry of Education would honour the UDS with a 66-seater bus.
The UDS boys beat the defending champions, Paulista University from Brazil 2:1 in the final of the 2025 World Universities Games in Dalian, China.
President Mahama said the Government through the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and the Ministry of Education, was working to strengthen youth and university sports systems to ensure that talented students or athletes, identified, developed, and supported to reach professional levels.
He reiterated that sports and recreation were integral to Ghana’s resetting agenda; adding that they promote national unity, discipline, and social inclusion while creating pathways for youth employment and entrepreneurship.
“Our goal, therefore, is to develop a new ecosystem where sports is seen not only as entertainment but as a viable sector contributing to Ghana’s economic growth.
“We’re therefore investing in sports infrastructure, talent development programmes, and recreational facilities across schools and communities, ensuring that young people everywhere can discover and nurture their potential,” he stated.
He said the Government was building a standard sports stadium in every region with all the facilities so that schools and other sports talents could always go and get good first-class training facilities.
He noted that the story of the UDS Male Football Team’s victory could be turned from Tamale to the world stage.
“…So from Tamale to the world stage. This perfectly embodies the spirit of the resetting agenda, Ghana rising through discipline, opportunity, and excellence.”
President Mahama congratulated the UDS Vice Chancellor, the Management, the Sports Directorate, the academic team and the UDS community and all who supported the team on this journey.
“You brought glory to Ghana and renewed the faith in the power of young people, education, and sports to transform lives. Carry this, your victory, with humility.
“Let it inspire others to dream boldly and work hard. The nation is proud of you. Keep the flag of Ghana flying high on the field and off the field,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah