Dr. Austin Luguterah, the newly appointed Sports Director at the University of Ghana, has criticized the role of politicians in the development of sports in the country, accusing them of pretending to care about its growth. Dr. Luguterah believes that while sports often feature prominently in political manifestos, politicians fail to make any meaningful contributions once in office. According to him, the government's attitude towards sports development is lackluster, as evidenced by the absence of a coherent sports policy, unlike other countries that have developed successful frameworks.
The state of Ghana's sports sector appears to be in decline, with various disciplines such as football, boxing, and athletics struggling at major international tournaments. Dr. Luguterah points out that politicians' focus on sports is often more about securing votes than addressing the sector’s actual needs. He further questioned the lack of a national sports policy, emphasizing that if politicians were genuinely committed to sports development, they would have introduced one by now. The absence of such a policy, he argued, shows the country's failure to emulate successful sporting nations, despite their efforts to mirror other global achievements, such as the English Premier League.
The consequences of this lack of commitment are evident, as Ghana faces challenges in international competitions. The country had no representation in boxing at the 2024 Olympic Games, a first since 2004, and the men's national football team has failed to qualify for the Olympics since 2004. Additionally, the Black Stars have not won a major trophy since their 1982 Africa Cup of Nations victory and were eliminated in the group stages of the last two editions of the tournament. Moreover, Ghana has not won an Olympic medal in track and field for over five decades, highlighting the country's ongoing struggles in sports.
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