Today, Ghana participated in the International UNESCO-led Zoom Conference on Sports under the theme, “Strengthening the ethics, integrity and values of sport in the ECOWAS region after the COVID-19 pandemic” held in Dakar, Senegal. Over 30 participants including countries from the West African sub-region made presentations on the current state of sports in their respective countries and how they intend to ensure a recovery of the sports sector. Countries which took part in the conference included Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Prof. Peter Twumasi, the Director General of the National Sports Authority who spoke on behalf of the Government of Ghana, chronicled the various interventions the country made in the sports sector during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic from March, 2020 till date. These included suspension of all sporting activities and provision of relief packages to individual athletes, sports clubs and associations. With the resumption of sporting activities in Ghana by the end of October 2020, all games were played behind closed doors and later with admission of 25% of spectators into our stadia. The Government of Ghana made substantial financial and logistical contributions to sports clubs to enable them to participate in the ongoing football league matches. Government also absorbed the cost of disinfection of sporting facilities, testing of athletes and treatment of those who turn out positive. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government of Ghana has maintained steady infrastructural development in sports, to ensure that the hosting of the 2023 African Games in Ghana is unaffected. Ghana also informed the conference of the country’s 100% compliance to anti-doping, in order to guarantee an effective regulation of doping at all levels of sports for fair play and to ensure that the health of athletes are not compromised. Ghana continues to open its doors for adoption of regional anti-doping laboratory and its readiness to host such a facility on her soil for the benefit of the entire sub-region.
He further called on UNESCO and all member countries including partners in sports to help preserve the existing funding system and also advocating for a more enhanced sports budget for all member states, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sports promotes good health and can be used as a tool for rebuilding collapsed economies. Ghana further assured Senegal of her readiness to support the hosting of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, especially by inviting them to learn from Ghana during the preparations towards the 2023 African Games in Ghana.
The conference will continue for the next two days.
04/02/2021
