Association Presidents Demand 10% Of GFA�s Budget

Presidents of the various sports associations and federations have appealed to the government to make available to them, 10% of the total budgetary allocation for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to ensure their survival. According to the associations, they are gradually grinding to a halt due to financial challenges following neglect by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The appeal replicated almost all presentations made to the Justice Senyo Dzamefe Presidential Commission of Inquiry by the association presidents on Thursday. Mohamed Sahnoon, President of the Ghana Cycling Association (GCA), said they were demanding equitable and fair distribution of the national �sports cake�. According to Sahnoon, the current system of distribution of state resources to the various sporting bodies have contributed to the under-development of other sporting disciplines in the country. He said, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, had over the years allocated all the funds for sports into the development of football at the detriment of other disciplines. �There is no formula for the distribution of state resources, even though we asked at the beginning of the year to submit budgets to the Ministry through the National Sports Authority (NSA). �Every sport is popular depending on the availability of resources so it is wrong for football to be described as popular whilst other less popular,� he stated. Ben Nunoo-Mensah President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF) said, his outfit requires only $20,000 dollars to organise national championships and participate in international competitions as well. He noted that, his federations and others have been denied funding for the past two years with the focus on only football. He said sports was for the youth and not all the youth in Ghana played football hence the need for the ministry to focus its attention on other sporting disciplines to ensure a total development. Nestor Percy Galley, President of the Ghana Badminton Association (GBA) said, his outfit had over the years relied on funds from individuals and some few corporate bodies without governmental support. He said, they had incurred huge debts from travel agents and other services providers and will soon be dragged to court. Over 20 presidents of the associations and federations made an appearance at the commission to voice out their case.