NSA inaugurates resource mobilisation committee to drive investment in Ghana sports

Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA) has inaugurated a five-member Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Committee as part of efforts to secure sustainable funding and strengthen strategic partnerships for the development of sport.

The committee, chaired by African Paralympic Committee President Samson Deen, was inaugurated in Accra on Friday and has been tasked with identifying new sources of funding while building stronger relationships between the NSA and potential partners.

Speaking at the inauguration, Deen said the committee’s mandate must go beyond the traditional practice of seeking financial support, insisting that Ghana needs a structured approach to investing in sport.

“Resource mobilisation must not mean simply asking for money,” he said.

Deen stressed that Ghana has abundant sporting talent but lacks the systems needed to identify, finance and develop athletes capable of competing at the highest level.

“Ghana does not lack sporting talent. What we must build is the system that finds the talent, finances the talent, develops the talent, projects the talent — and takes that talent to the podium.”

His comments come against the backdrop of persistent funding challenges faced by sports federations and athletes, particularly in the build-up to major international competitions.

Deen called for a shift from last-minute fundraising to long-term investment and planning.

“We must move from emergency funding to strategic investment,” he said.

The committee is expected to engage government agencies, corporate institutions, development partners, sports federations, the media and other stakeholders as it seeks to unlock new resources for Ghanaian sport.

Deen also identified the proposed Constituency Games as a potential platform for grassroots talent identification and development.

He said the initiative should serve a wider purpose than simply providing another sporting competition on the national calendar.

“The Constituency Games must not become just another competition on the calendar. They must become a national talent-discovery movement.”

Under the proposed model, athletes identified at community and constituency levels would be given a pathway through regional and national competitions before progressing into elite development programmes.

Deen also called for greater involvement from the media in promoting athletes at the early stages of their careers, rather than focusing primarily on them after they have achieved international success.

“We do not want the media to arrive only when the medal has been won. We want you there when the journey begins,” he said.

He added that the committee’s performance should ultimately be measured by the tangible impact it makes on athletes and sporting communities.

“We should be judged not by the number of meetings we hold, but by the partnerships we build; not by the documents we produce, but by the resources we unlock.”

The newly inaugurated committee will now begin its work as the NSA seeks to develop sustainable funding mechanisms and establish partnerships capable of supporting the long-term growth of sport in Ghana.