Gov’t Allocates $2.5m For Sports Infrastructure

Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has announced that government has allocated $2.5 million for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to develop infrastructure in sections of the sector.

Presenting the 2019 budget statement to Parliament on Thursday, he said the amount would cover the renovation of the Accra Sports Stadium and other facilities.

“The Accra Sports Stadium has been refurbished by the government. In all, we are going to spend over $2.5 in infrastructure in 2019”.

“Mr. Speaker, the Accra Sports Stadium has been renovated after a decade of neglect. Finally, sports-loving Ghanaians can go to the stadium and safely watch their favourite teams play,” the minister said.

He added, “Mr. Speaker, sports continue to be one of the key unifying factors in our country, bringing all of us together as one irrespective of our differences.”

According to him, as part of measures to improve the sector, government had invested in 10 youth and sports Centres of Excellence in each of the 10 regions of Ghana which are at various stages of completion.

He disclosed that in addition to hosting the Confederation of African Football Women’s Nations Cup (AWCON 2018), Ghana had also won the bid to host the 2023 All African Games.

In a related development, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah has launched the Youth in Sports program at a short event at the University College of Education, Winneba.

The initiative, which is under the auspices of the Youth and Sports Ministry, Ministry of Labour Relations and Youth Employment Agency, seeks to equip the country’s youth in sports with skills in artisanship.

By: Jennifer Avemee