NPP Manifesto: Bawumia Promises Upgraded Pitches And Buses To Improve Ghana Premier League
The Vice President and Flagbearer of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has announced bold steps by his government to directly support the revival of the Ghana Premier League, as well as other clubs.
Launching the NPP’s 2024 Manifesto, which he described as bold solutions, Dr Bawumia announced comprehensive and sustainable sports development policies, including funding, training, tax incentives and direct support.
Dr. Bawumia revealed that as President, his government will “support the revival of the Premier League, and Clubs, to improve commercial viability, and to create related jobs.”
Giving details of what he intends to do as President, Dr Bawumia said his government directly support the Premier League and the clubs by “directing policy through the National Lotteries Authority and the Gaming Commission to establish and fund a Sports Employment Module to assist Premier League clubs fund operational expenses, including player remuneration.”
Dr. Bawumia also announced that his government will “provide a bus each to Premier League Clubs” to ease the transportation burdens of Premier League clubs.
To encourage corporate investment in sports, Dr. Bawumia also revealed his government’s intention to use tax incentives, including a flat tax, to incentivise private sector investments in sports.
As part of his broad vision for sports, Dr. Bawumia announced that his government “will establish the Ghana School Sports Secretariat, which will be an agency under the ministry responsible for sports, in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Ghana Education Service (GES) and sports federations.”
With funding for school sports being a challenge over the years, the establishment of the school sports Secretariat, as an agency under the ministry responsible for sports, and as a brainchild of the President himself, is expected to provide annual budgetary allocations to ensure sustainable development.
The Bawumia also reiterated his quest to partner international sports bodies, to make Ghana a hub for emerging or alien sports in Africa.
“My government will also seek school-level collaboration with international sports bodies like the NBA and NFL to make Ghana a hub for these emerging sports in Africa, to create more opportunities for young people.”
“We have already tried this with the NFL, the governing body for American Football League.”
