Sports budget suffers 30% reduction
The budget of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) has been slashed down to GH¢32,799,500, representing 30 percent reduction of last year’s budget of GH¢46,910,275.
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The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who announced this when he delivered the 2018 national budget in Parliament last Wednesday, also said a sports fund would be created to improve sports development in the country.
Mr Ofori Atta, among other things, gave the assurance that the process of passing the Legislative Instrument of the National Youth and Sports Act, as well as the enactment of the draft National Sports College Bill, would be pursued.
He said, “the Sports Ministry will facilitate the Black Stars’ preparation in the qualifiers to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Tournament in Cameroun and also that of the Black Satellites in the 2018 U-20 African Cup of Nations Tournament”.
“Ghana will host and participate in the 2018 African Women’s Championship. The Black Princesses will be supported to qualify and participate in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Tournament in France.
“The Ministry will also facilitate the qualification and participation of the Black Maidens in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay”, both to be held next year.
He also indicated that the National Sports Authority (NSA) will prepare and participate in Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, the African Youth Games in Algeria and the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
On the ministry’s achievements for the year under review, Mr Ofori Atta mentioned the Black Stars’ participation in the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Gabon where they placed fourth, the Black Stars ‘B’ win of the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations tournament and the Black Starlets’ second position at the African U-17 Youth Championship held in Gabon.
