Chairman of the National Sports Authority Committee on Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships (NSA RMPC), Mr. Samson Deen, is optimistic that the upcoming Constituency Games will unearth talent that will change the fortunes of Ghana Sports in the future at international meets like the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and World Championships.
Speaking at a Consultative Engagement and Endorsement Forum for Ghanaian and international media organisations at the ESP Hotel in Labone, Accra, on Friday, he said the mass media are important partners who will cover, promote, and present information through advertisements about the Games.
Scheduled to span six months from October 2026 to 2027, it will involve all 275 constituencies with participants’ ages ranging from 15 to 35 years.
Samson Deen, who is President of the African Paralympic Committee (APC) and the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Ghana, emphasized that it is an opportunity for the youth and falls in line with HE President John Dramani Mahama’s vision on Youth in Sports to overhaul grassroots sports.
He expressed that the youth are the majority who perform sports activities and other recreational activities which boost tourism and promote sustainable development.
He revealed that there will be an expo to showcase all the sporting disciplines under the NSA, and sports will lead the way in the celebration of Ghana @ 70 Independence.
According to Mr. Deen, the media turns transparency into public trust, and that is one of the reasons for engaging the media.
He advised the sports journalists to shun negative reportage to attract sponsorships, safeguard their gains, verify information gathered, seek consent, make corrections if possible, and publish news that builds confidence of the people.
He named the sporting disciplines to be considered in the initial event as football, athletics, boxing and para sports.
The engagement marked an important step towards establishing a coordinated national media partnership capable of taking the message of the Constituency Games from every community in Ghana and around the world.
Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Director General of the NSA / Vice Chairman of the Committee, who was present at the Forum, indicated that media is important as they drive the society. He commended the participants and urged them to report the positive news.
He articulated that the resetting of Ghana Sports is not a political slogan, but essential in the lives of the youth.
“The Constituency Games is not an event but an evolution; ideally, we change from good to better and best to a high standard level,” he stressed.
The media practitioners contributed positively, with one suggesting that the Justice Dzamefe Report, which calls for a percentage of World Cup proceeds to be directed into supporting the NSA, be executed, since the major issue of the project was funding.
Other members of the NSA RMPC Committee are Hajia Sulemana Zenabu, Alhaji Iddris Muntawakilu Ahmed, and Mavis Animah Kwainoo, who urged the media to own and protect the project, which is aimed at resetting grassroots sports development.
By Sammy Heywood Okine
