Sports

Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports Development Advocates for Increased Investment in Sports Across West Africa

Published

3 years ago

March 17, 2024

Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mustapha Ussif has called upon West African nations to ramp up their investments in sports infrastructure and development to emulate the success achieved by North African countries in the realm of sports. Minister Ussif made these remarks during the ongoing African Games, where Egypt and Algeria currently dominate the medals table, with Tunisia and Morocco also amongst the top 10.

Highlighting the importance of strategic investments in sports, Minister Ussif emphasized that Ghana is on the brink of a new era where substantial investments in sports will yield tangible results across the country. He stressed that for West Africa to compete at the highest levels and achieve greater success, it is imperative for governments and stakeholders to prioritize sports development.

Minister Ussif outlined key areas where investments are crucial for the advancement of sports in the region. These include Infrastructure – to develop state-of-the-art sports facilities and stadiums to provide athletes with world-class training and competition venues. He also said grassroots development is also important as investing in grassroots programs to identify and nurture young talent from a grassroots level will ensure a sustainable pipeline of future champions.

Ussif added that more high-performance training centers equipped with cutting-edge technology and expert coaching staff are desired to enhance the performance of elite athletes. Also, enhancing sports medicine facilities and services to ensure the health and well-being of athletes, as well as to expedite recovery and rehabilitation processes are necessary.

Minister Ussif stressed that by prioritizing these areas of investment, West African nations can create an enabling environment for athletes to excel on the international stage, just as their North African counterparts have demonstrated.

As Ghana enters this new dispensation of sports development, Minister Ussif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in sports infrastructure and programs that will empower athletes and contribute to the nation’s sporting success.

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Sports

29 Days To AACT 2026: IBB Club Renewal Heralds Nigeria’s African Golf Showcase

Published

8 hours ago

October 4, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

With 29 days to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), Nigeria is stepping up preparations to host the continental women’s team golf championship, with the extensive rehabilitation of the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja providing a major boost to the country’s readiness.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja Director of Communication AACT 2026, Kayode Adeniyi said the Club’s Board of Trustees has assured that the facility will be fully prepared to welcome golfers, officials and delegates from across Africa when the championship tees off on November 2.

Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, CFR, gave the assurance after inspecting ongoing rehabilitation works at the Club, expressing satisfaction with the progress recorded so far.

The IBB International Golf and Country Club has undergone extensive rehabilitation following its closure to regular golfing activities for more than a year. The intervention has focused on the golf course, selected holes, the clubhouse and other key facilities required to provide a befitting venue for the continental championship.

Justice Dongban-Mensem expressed confidence that the rehabilitation programme would be completed in time for the AACT, further reassuring stakeholders that the Club would be ready to host Africa’s leading female golfers.

Chairman of the Club’s Interim Management Committee, Peter Deshi, also expressed optimism over the progress of work, with regular golfing activities expected to resume ahead of the championship.

For the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the readiness of the host venue remains a critical component of the country’s preparations.

President of the Association, Dr. Lami Ahmed, has similarly expressed confidence in Nigeria’s preparations to stage a successful championship.

The 2026 AACT is scheduled to take place from November 2 to 7 at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

With the countdown now entering its final month, the rehabilitation of the Club is sending a strong message about Nigeria’s determination to deliver a successful championship and provide a worthy stage for Africa’s finest female golfers.

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