Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, officially inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Board of the National Sports Authority (NSA) during a ceremony in Accra on last Monday.
The event followed Cabinet approval of the nominees in accordance with Section 4 of the Sports Act, 2016 (Act 934), which requires a Governing Board to oversee the NSA’s operations and promote efficiency.
Dr. Fred Awaah, a respected academic and management expert, was appointed as Chairperson and assured of hardwork for desired outcomes: “We’ll work effectively to move sports from a social entertainment enterprise to one that directly contributes to national economic development.”
Minister Adams praised the board’s diverse expertise and charged its members with leading bold structural reforms to reposition the NSA as a high-performing, results-oriented institution.
He emphasized addressing longstanding challenges such as infrastructure gaps, inefficiencies, and outdated policies while aligning with modern global trends like commercialization, gender and disability inclusion, data-driven governance, and international partnerships.
The Minister highlighted the NSA’s pivotal responsibilities in facilities management, athlete welfare, support for national sports federations, grassroots development, and fostering private sector investment to unlock sports’ potential for economic growth, job creation, and social cohesion.
He pledged full ministerial support for accountability, innovation, and accelerating updates to the 2016 Sports Act and the National Sports Policy.
The full board comprises a mix of representatives from various sectors, including security services, tertiary institutions, and sports development experts. Key members include:
– Chairperson: Dr. Fred Awaah
– Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah (noted sports journalist and current NSA Director-General)
– Mr. Fuseini Bawa (also referred to as Bawa Fuseini)
– Mr. Samuel Duku Sarfo
– Nana Adwoa Owusu-Amoh
– Mr. Is-Haku Al-Hassan
– Col. Richard Kofi Akoto (representing Security Services Sports Associations)
– Mr. Richard Kofi Akpokavie
– Dr. Luguterah Austin Wontepaga (representing tertiary institutions)
– Prof. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong
– Ms. Theresa Osahene
– Mr. Hamilton Kweku Nixon
– Mr. Samson Deen (reappointed, President of the African and Ghana Paralympic Committees, bringing expertise in inclusion and paralympic development)
This inauguration represents a key milestone in the government’s efforts to revitalize Ghana’s sports sector under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, building on earlier reforms like enhanced revenue transparency and e-ticketing initiatives announced by Minister Adams.
The board is expected to deliver measurable improvements in governance, stakeholder trust, and overall sports ecosystem performance.