By Hilda Yaa Tebuah
In Ghana, “sports” is nearly exchangeable with football. Football overshadows the sports scene, garnering the majority of media attention and broad participation. This strong emphasis, however, has resulted in the oversight of other sports like athletics, swimming, hockey, tennis, and basketball. Although these sports have committed players, they do not receive the necessary backing from either the government or the public.
While numerous Senior High and Junior High schools in Ghana provide training in different sports, these young athletes frequently struggle to receive the essential support and recognition after they complete their education. This absence of support compels many to give up on their aspirations or look for opportunities in other countries.
This problem is especially clear during global events such as the Olympics. Athletes from Ghana frequently face challenges because of poor training facilities and limited resources. A significant number train overseas and only come back to compete for Ghana during the competitions. The absence of local infrastructure and support is evident in their results, which often fall short of the average due to inadequate preparation.
Additionally, there are several sports in which Ghana does not participate in the Olympics at all. Discus, javelin, shot put, and triple jump suffer from a lack of adequate facilities and training opportunities in Ghana.
The government’s attention to football has resulted in other sports being neglected. Many times, sports organizations such as the Ghana Olympic Committee, the Paralympic team, and the Boxing team look for assistance from sponsors and the public. Ideally, the government should be the one providing this support. Yet, the unequal distribution of resources towards the national football team, the Black Stars, exacerbates the problem.
The Ghana Olympic Committee made a heartfelt plea on Facebook in August 2022, requesting more investment for the national boxing team. They asked why the country doesn’t put more funding into boxing, particularly given the team’s successes. The post pointed out that despite guiding the team to several international medals, the coach who has been with them for twenty years has not been recognized with any honours.
The Committee noted that the Black Bombers were not ready for the 2022 Commonwealth Games because of insufficient residential training, lack of proper nutrition, and low motivation levels. Nevertheless, the team brought pride to the nation. The Committee underscored the importance of providing scholarships for young boxers’ education, ensuring they have proper nutrition for health and strength, and offering regular pay to ease their financial worries.
Supporters urged that the Black Bombers be granted the same level of backing and care as the national football team, the Black Stars. The post ended by expressing these and other concerns in an effort to highlight the pressing necessity for investment and assistance in Ghanaian boxing.
The recently finished African Games in Accra emphasized these issues. Numerous participants expressed dissatisfaction regarding insufficient logistics and equipment. For example, members of the bicycle racing team from Ghana stated that they used their funds to buy racing bicycles. A cyclist was forced to drop out of a competition because of a damaged bicycle, highlighting the insufficient government backing. Moreover, at the All Africa Games, the Ghanaian hockey team voiced worries regarding the insufficient support from Ghanaians and the ineffective management they faced. They believed that these problems negatively impacted their performance and spirit during the competition.
The poor state of sports facilities also impacts international competitions. The South African hockey squad opted out of a game in the African Games, stating unsatisfactory pitch conditions as their justification. This situation reflects the wider disregard for sports facilities beyond football. This intense emphasis on football also affects societal perspectives. Parents frequently deter their kids from engaging in less mainstream sports because of the absence of acknowledgment and backing.
To tackle these problems, the government and the Sports Ministry should allocate resources to and advocate for a broader spectrum of sports. This investment would enhance Ghana’s standing in international contests while also creating extra income for the nation. Media outlets ought to expand their reporting to encompass various sports, motivating the upcoming generation to engage in different athletic activities.
Investing in and acknowledging diverse sports is essential for nurturing a comprehensive sports culture in Ghana. In doing so, the nation can guarantee that every athlete gets the assistance required to succeed and bring honour to the country internationally.
