The National Democratic Congress (NDC) won decisively against the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) for both the Presidential and Parliamentary General Elections on December 7 where His Excellency John Dramani Mahama was declared the new President-Elect to lead the incoming new government.
With the swearing in of the new government imminent expectations are that new ministerial appointments will be made at various governmental sectors to steer the country into its desired course.
One such ministry is the Ministry of Youths and Sports which has almost always being under public scrutiny. The sector has seen four different ministers since 2015—Hon. Maj. (Dr.) Mustapha Ahmed RTD. (MP), Hon. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah (MP) and Current occupant for the NPP, Hon. Mustapha Yusif (MP) who’s been widely seen a flop by many in the top position for the past three years.
Here at AhotorSports, we take a look at potential candidates who are likely to be named to assume the top role at the Ministry. It is important to evince the list is not in order of preference as the Economist would arrange his list of choices on his preferential scale.
Hon. Edwin Nii Lamptey Vanderpuye.
The outspoken Member of Parlaiment for Ododiodioo constituency for the NDC has constantly expressed to becoming the next Sports Minister in the next government nonstationary commencing work on January 7, 2025. He has become a serial critic of the current administration led by Mustapha Yusif.
Vanderpuye, who served as Sports Minister in 2016, in a recent interview showed his dissatisfaction with the current state of Ghanaian sports, promising decisive action to address its challenges.
“If I become the Minister of Sports in 2025, I will sanitize the sports sector once again. “I am not happy with the things going on. I am not happy. There are a lot of things going on in our football that require bold steps to sanitize the system. Football should benefit those who play it and invest in it, not businessmen and opportunists who treat footballers like poultry chickens, using them whenever they desire for their own gain. I have been a footballer before, and I will fight against anyone who desires to exploit any sportsman,” he told JoySports.
His comments followed the Black Stars, Ghana’s national football team failure to qualify for the 2025AFCON for the first time since 2004 climaxing recent new normal performances where Ghana could not beyond the group stage of any international tournament since their Round of 16 finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
Prof. Francis Dodoo
Former President of Ghana Athletics and Ghana Olympics Committee, Prof. Francis Dodoo aka ”Padigo” is also reportedly on the list of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, the President-Elect for the Republic to be appointed the new Sports Minister. Prof. Francis Dodoo Among Others Considered To Head The Sports Ministry In 2025 Professor Dodoo is a 4-time Olympian and was voted Ghana’s Sportsman of the Year in 1987.
Professor Dodoo served as President of both Ghana Athletics (GAA) and the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and was awarded the Grand Medal of the Republic of Ghana in 2006 for his contributions to the country.
Beyond Ghana, he currently serves as Chair of the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) board, Chair of the Governance Commission of World Athletics (WA), and as a member of the Governance and Integrity Committee of the Commonwealth Games Foundation (CGF).
This is not the first time Padigo has been linked with the Sports Minister role as reports immerged in 2009 that late Prof. Evans Atta Mills, then President of Ghana considered him for the position.
Samson Deen
African Paralympic Committee President Samson Deen could be suggested for vetting to the Ministry of Youths and Sports job. He has an enviable knowledge in sports management and administration. He is notably known for promoting sports development and he is the brain behind the first-ever African Para Games which was organized in Accra—that was hugely successful.
In addition to his sports management experience, Deen is a successful entrepreneur and founder of the African Origin Group of Companies. He had successful stints with traditional football clubs in Ghana, like King Faisal SC, Asante Kotoko SC, and Heart of Lions year ago,
Also, the President National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC-Ghana) has been nominated for the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year Award at the upcoming Metro Sports Awards in January 2025 reflecting his selfless dedication to Sports Development.
Wisdom Kobena Woyome
Hon. Wisdom Kobena Woyome, MP for South Tongu Constituency, has served on various committees, including the Youth, Sports, and Culture and has relative knowledge to lead the Ministry
“I think he was defensive; he was defensive and I expect that from him because he would not sit down and just sit to listen…so yes he was defensive and so we will tease out what we need to tease out. Of course, I expect them to always be a bit jittery with answers to some of the questions because when I wanted them to know that it appears they are overwhelmed, I mean they are overwhelmed with all the responsibilities that they need to manage all these facilities across the country and they are not able hence the situation we find the facilities in”, he told Channel One after Mustapha Yusif appeared before the Public Accounts Committee in September.
He is therefore being touted as a candidate with transparency and could help change the narratives if appointed to head the Ministry.
The National Democratic Congress and John Mahama Dramani had Clement K. Humado, Elvis Afriyie Ankra, Mahama Ayariga as Sports Ministers in his first stint as the President of the Republic of Ghana between 2013 and 2016. Expanding the conversation, the sector has seen eleven different Ministers since 2009.
