The National Sports Authority on Tuesday, 22nd September, 2020 held a meeting with heads of the various sports federations of non-contacts sports, in response to the President’s statement to kick start contact sporting activities in the country.
The Director-General of The National Sports Authority, Professor Peter Twumasi who chaired the meeting on behalf of the minister of Youth and Sports in his opening remarks, outlined the need for all the federations to present their strategies, challenges and measures needed to be taken care of before the resumption of effective training in a safer environment. He stressed the need for all athletes to adhere to the covid-19 safety protocols that have been put in place, which he said is the only way to keep the athletes safe from contracting the virus.
The President of the Ghana Football Association, Mr. Kurt Okraku pleaded that, the industry needed both financial and logistical support from government in this critical time since sports is an essential element to the country’s development.
The various association heads took turns to present their plans, strategies and needs to resume training in a safer environment in this challenging period of the covid-19 pandemic.
They requested that training venues be made accessible for sporting activities in order to resume effective training, as some of the disciplines are preparing for international competitions later this year.
The most outstanding issue was the need for all the various federations to be provided with PPE’s, aside the general testing of the athletes. Some of the heads also lamented on the cost of providing facemasks and sanitizers to their athletes amongst others. They overwhelmingly requested for financial support, due to the impact of the covid-19 pandemic.
The Director General of the NSA, who had taken note of all the request from the federation heads assured them that he will forward a full report to the sector Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Isaac Asiamah for prompt action to be taken.
Ebenezer Gyamerah
Abdul Ganiyu Hussein
22nd September,2020