‘Our priorities are wrong in Ghana’ – UG Sports Director on sports development
The Director of Sports and Wellness at the University of Ghana, Dr. Austin Luguterah, has called out the stagnation in Ghana’s sports development, highlighting that the sector is not progressing because authorities have failed to prioritize it. This lack of focus, he says, has led to a noticeable decline across major sports disciplines, including football, boxing, and athletics, all struggling in recent international competitions.
According to Dr. Luguterah, Ghana’s approach to sports is fundamentally flawed, with the country placing emphasis on results without laying a strong foundation. In an interview with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai on Joy News’ Prime Take, he pointed out, “Our priorities are wrong [in this country as far as sports is concerned]. We want to copy, but we don’t want to find out how they are making it.”
Dr. Luguterah expressed concern over Ghana’s tendency to emulate nations like the United States in their sports revenue generation without understanding the groundwork that enabled their success. He added, “That is the mindset of Ghana. We are quick to say the United States are getting money in sports; let’s also get money there. But what foundation did they build to get to that level?”
The absence of a concrete sports policy in Ghana is a significant problem, as Dr. Luguterah noted. He explained that while policies are binding, manifestos are not—underscoring the need for a structured policy to guide and sustain sports development in the country.
The recent failures in Ghana’s sports sector underscore the urgency of these issues. For the first time since 2004, Ghana did not have a boxer representing the nation at the 2024 Olympic Games. Similarly, the men’s football team has not qualified for the Olympics since the 2004 Athens Games. The Black Stars, Ghana’s senior national football team, have struggled as well, failing to win a major title since their 1982 Africa Cup of Nations victory and being eliminated in the group stages of the last two tournament editions.
Track and field has not fared any better. Ghana has not won an Olympic medal in track and field events in over 50 years, highlighting the pressing need for reform. The nation’s sports sector remains under scrutiny as calls grow for an actionable sports policy to reverse this trend and promote sustainable growth across disciplines.
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