The Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has pledged to revitalise Ghana’s sporting landscape through a new partnership with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to secure sustainable funding.
During his first official visit to the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) in Accra, Adams revealed that high-level talks are underway to create a dedicated lottery system.
The initiative aims to inject much-needed capital into national sports infrastructure and improve the welfare of the country’s elite athletes.
“Collaboration is essential for progress,” the Minister told officials. “The GOC is a vital part of the sports sector.”
While Ghana’s sports federations are consistently striving for international podium finishes, the perennial hurdle remains the same: finance.
Richard Akpokavie, President of the GOC, briefed the Minister on the committee’s current efforts, which include mapping out athletes and facilities ahead of major international competitions, running intensive training programmes for coaches and sports officials, and facilitating educational scholarships to ensure athletes have a future beyond the track and field.
Akpokavie welcomed the Minister’s intervention, noting that the recently established Ghana Sports Fund is already a significant step toward easing the financial constraints that have long hindered the sector’s growth.
The visit, which included a detailed policy briefing, served as an assessment of how the Ministry and the GOC can better coordinate their activities.
Adams praised the current leadership for their diligence but urged them to push further to ensure Ghanaian athletes achieve greater success on the world stage.
The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Ministry’s Chief Director, Wilhelmina Asamoah, and representatives from various national sports federations.
As Ghana looks toward upcoming international championships, the promise of a “Sports Lottery” offers a glimmer of hope for a sector often left to do more with less.
