By Maxwell Awumah, GNA
Ho, April 12, GNA – Sports has the power to transform society, but only when professionals combine knowledge, discipline and financial wisdom to sustain their careers, Ms Irene Enyonam Quaye, Branch Manager of Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC in Ho, has stated.
She emphasised that passion alone cannot drive sports development, declaring that financial resources are essential to train coaches and sports medicine professionals, acquire equipment and technology, run community outreach programmes and support research, rehabilitation, and innovation.
“Without proper funding, even the best ideas struggle to survive. With good funding, sport can create jobs, improve health, and bring peace to communities and nations. That is why banks see sports as more than entertainment — we see it as a business and development industry,” she noted.
Ms Quaye made the remarks during the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), celebrated by the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine (SSEM) of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho under the theme: “Sport and Exercise for Economic Growth, Recreation and a Healthy Nation.”
She explained that funding gives sport permanence, while young people provide its future lifeline and urged sports professionals to integrate financial planning into their careers, stressing that saving, investing, and protecting income are as important as training the body.
Ms Quaye encouraged students to leverage digital platforms for sports projects, noting that banks provide secure payment systems, transparent project accounts, and tools for managing sponsorships and donations — all of which build trust and accountability.
She again advised students to intentionally invest small amounts regularly to grow savings, and to consider building self-owned businesses after graduation in areas such as rehabilitation and physiotherapy clinics, fitness and wellness centres, sports nutrition services and community sports programmes.
“A strong sports career should be backed by financial security. If you can train your body consistently, you can also train yourself to save consistently. An injury should not destroy your education or your future plans,” she cautioned.
Prof Nii Korley Kotei, Dean of School of Sports and Exercise Medicine said the SSEM-UHAS joined the global community in recognizing the extraordinary power of sports, not merely as competition or regulation, but as a unifying force that transcends bodies, cultures, and differences.
He said the School integrates science, practice and research to shape the future of sport, athletics and physical well-being as a preventive health approach in mitigating the rising menace of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana, Africa and beyond.
Professor Lydia Aziato, the Vice Chancellor of UHAS said the University is the only notable one undertaking a sports and exercise medicine as a course in the country and beyond and training unique health professionals with skills and knowledge to deliver services for individuals, who are healthy or who have symptoms.
She said the SSEM-UHAS has become a professional hub dedicated to advancing athlete performance, sports injury rehabilitation, physical health and well-being tailored through rigorous academic and practical training for excellence.
“Our expectation is to have graduates from this programme being able to access, diagnose and prescribe or provide services that could keep individuals healthy, what food is consumed for mental stability and perform better to optimize human life.”
Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, said the government intended to develop and construct a FIFA Category Two stadium and again identify and nurture talents through school and grassroots sports secretariat.
He said government places strong emphasis on inclusive growth and youth empowerment with the 24-Hour Economic policy presenting a unique avenue for the sports sector.
The event was sponsored by Republic Bank, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Salaria EyeMed, BestHands Therapy Clinic and Funchel.com.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah