Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), has described the planned Constituency Games as potentially the biggest intervention in Ghana’s sports sector since independence.
Speaking at the Constituency Games Consultative Engagement and Endorsement Forum on Friday, August 21, 2026, Ampofo Ankrah said the initiative was designed to reach every constituency and community across all regions of Ghana. “I think this is going to be the greatest input or intervention in Ghana’s cause that we’ve seen since independence,” he said .
A Nationwide Platform for Talent
Ampofo Ankrah emphasized the nationwide scope of the programme, noting that the initiative would provide opportunities for communities across the country to participate in organized sporting activities. According to him, this would help move sports development beyond major urban centres and create a broader platform for young people with sporting potential to be identified and nurtured .
He noted that many talented young people currently lack access to organized competitions and structured opportunities to develop their abilities. The Constituency Games could help bridge that gap by bringing sporting activities closer to communities, with the potential to contribute to the development of Ghana’s national teams by creating a wider pool from which talent can be identified .
Call for Media Support
The NSA Director-General also appealed to media practitioners to take ownership of the initiative by supporting its promotion. “It’s for you, my dear media colleagues. Let’s hold it, let’s embrace it, and let’s push it to the next level,” he urged .
He stressed that sustained media coverage would be important in generating public interest, encouraging participation, and highlighting emerging talents from different constituencies .
Strategic Partnerships & Resource Mobilisation
The push for the Constituency Games comes alongside broader efforts to revamp sports financing in Ghana. The NSA recently inaugurated a five-member Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Committee (RMPC), chaired by African Paralympic Committee President Samson Deen, to diversify funding beyond traditional government support .
At the inauguration, Deen argued that Ghana does not lack sporting talent but lacks the systems to identify, finance, and develop athletes. He stressed that the Constituency Games “must not become just another competition on the calendar. They must become a national talent-discovery movement” .
Boost from the Ghana-Anhui Chamber
The initiative has also received tangible support from the private sector. On August 18, the Ghana-Anhui Chamber of Commerce and Industry donated 2,120 sports items to the RMPC to support the upcoming Games .
The package comprised:
· 600 pairs of footwear (Peace canvas sneakers and casual shoes)
· 1,520 Peace T-shirts (adult unisex sizes XS to 3XL)
Present at the ceremony were Ghana Olympic Committee President Richard Akpokavie, NSA Board Chairman Dr. Awal, RMPC Chairman Samson Deen, and former Black Stars captain Andre Ayew .
“No Child Should Be Left Behind”
Samson Deen expressed appreciation for the support, stressing that the Games are intended to create opportunities for young sporting talents regardless of their background. “No child should be left out because of their location or background. That is the reason for the Constituency Games,” he said .
Andre Ayew, who has been involved in youth football activities across Ghana, welcomed the donation. “Ghana gave me everything. I played football when I was six, seven, eight, growing up, playing in the communities. That’s what brought me to where I am today,” he reflected, adding that the impact of the Games extends far beyond football .
A New Vision for Grassroots Sports
The Constituency Games are being positioned as a community-owned national talent discovery platform. The programme is expected to provide a pathway for young athletes from constituency-level competition through regional and national stages, eventually progressing into elite development programmes .
This initiative is also part of a larger strategic framework, including the proposed $30 million National Sports Revival and Podium Investment Programme, which covers infrastructure, athlete preparation, coaching, sports science, anti-doping, and grassroots development .
The organisers are continuing to engage stakeholders across government, corporate Ghana, and development partners to gather input and build broader support for the programme, with the ultimate goal of uniting communities and building a sustainable future for Ghanaian sports.
