The President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has appealed to corporate institutions to support the country’s struggling sports federations, many of which are grappling with severe financial constraints.
In recent times, several federations in Ghana have faced significant funding challenges, leading to reduced participation in major international and continental competitions. Some teams have even been forced to withdraw entirely due to a lack of resources.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Sports Nite Show, Mr. Ahmed, who also served as a Member of Parliament for the people of Weija-Gbawe constituency, highlighted funding as the most pressing issue facing sports development in Ghana.
“The biggest problem in Ghana sports is funding. Funding is a challenge, and that is the reason why many disciplines struggle in this country,” he said.
“I will plead for corporate bodies to come on board to assist the various sporting disciplines,” he added.
He recounted a personal experience where he had to borrow money to enable the national weightlifting team to participate in a competition in Uzbekistan—an outstanding debt he is still working to settle.
“I was in Uzbekistan for a competition, and I had to go and borrow before we were able to go and compete, and I am yet to pay that debt, so funding is a big challenge,” he shared.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has indicated that plans to establish a dedicated Sports Fund are at an advanced stage, aimed at providing sustainable financial support for sports development across the country.