In his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, President Nana Akufo-Addo touched on several sectors, emphasising progress and addressing challenges.
The president devoted a portion of his speech to discussing sports, marking a notable shift as he specifically addressed the necessary improvements while acknowledging the evident decline in certain facets of the sector, if not across the board.
In his address, Akufo-Addo openly acknowledged the decline in Ghanaian football, particularly the disappointing performance of the Black Stars at the 2023 AFCON. He proposed a Presidential Policy on Football, focusing on grassroots development and talent scouting. The President also recognized the commendable performance of the Black Queens, emphasizing the need for equal attention to women’s football.
Here are key points from the sports category in the Akufo-Addo’s SONA.
Acknowledging Decline in Ghana Football and Proposing Corrective Policies
President Akufo-Addo candidly admitted the recent decline in Ghana football, expressing concern over the Black Stars’ performance, especially their early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“The recent AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire was probably the nadir of the performance of the Black Stars, and has left the nation saddened.
He reminisced about the glory days when the Black Stars achieved consecutive World Cup appearances and reached the quarterfinals in the 2010 tournament, making them the third African country to achieve such a feat.
In response, he alluded to an upcoming Presidential Policy on Football, underscoring the significance of revitalising grassroots development and talent scouting.
“It is time to return to scouting, grooming and developing talent at the district grassroots level under a Presidential Policy on Football that I intend to unveil.”
This also follows calls from Ghanaians to revive football, especially through the #SaveGhanaFootball demonstration
Recognition of Black Queens’ Performance and Disparity in Attention
The President acknowledged the commendable performance of the senior national female football team, the Black Queens, over the past year, providing Ghanaians with reasons to celebrate. Notably, he acknowledged the disparity in attention compared to the Black Stars, who have struggled to make a positive impact in recent years.
He voiced his support for the Black Queens, particularly ahead of their Olympic Games qualifier against Zambia, expressing his well-wishes for their success in overturning the first-leg deficit.
“The senior Women’s team, the Black Queens who do not get half the attention the Black Stars get, have been performing quite creditably. They had gone for ten (10) matches without any loss until last December’s when they lost narrowly to Namibia in Windhoek in the final qualifying round for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“Even though they lost narrowly to Zambia in the first leg of the qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games, let us wish them well in the second leg.”
Declares Ghana ready to host African Games
President Akufo-Addo proudly announced Ghana’s readiness to host the 13th African Games, highlighting the completion of preparations and the presence of high-quality sporting facilities. Despite financial challenges during the preparations, the President commended the courage to persist and welcomed sports enthusiasts to patronize and cheer on participants.
“It gives me great pleasure to report that all the preparations are ready for Ghana to welcome sportsmen and women from around the continent.”
“It has taken a lot of courage to have persisted with the decision to host the games, especially when our financial problems came in the midst of the preparations,” he added.
“But I am glad we went ahead. The preparations are all complete, and I was excited and very pleased with what I saw at Borteyman when I went to commission the Games village some two (2) weeks ago. We have high class sporting facilities which should serve us well long after the games are over. Some of the events will take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.”
Completion of Numerous Astro-turfs and Sports Facilities
The President highlighted the successful completion of over 150 astro-turf pitches throughout the country, emphasizing the foundational facilities to support talent development. He envisioned a steady progression of talent from junior teams to senior sides based on merit, signaling a commitment to nurturing and promoting sports at all levels.
“The more than one hundred and fifty (150) astro turf pitches constructed throughout the country, under this administration, provide the foundational facilities to make a start.”