Ghana must invest more in women’s football – Mahama

President John Mahama has urged the government of Ghana to allocate more resources to women's football, stating that the nation has historically invested more in men's football despite the women's teams achieving greater success. Addressing an event at the Jubilee House during a visit from several top Ghanaian football clubs, Mahama highlighted the disparity in support for the men's and women's teams.

He pointed out that Ghanaian women's teams have won more trophies than their male counterparts, yet the government consistently directs the majority of its financial support towards the men's game.

The president cited an example where the women's club, Ampem Darkoa Ladies, was initially overlooked for attention and resources until the president intervened, noting their eloquent presentation despite the earlier lack of recognition. Mahama emphasized the need for affirmative action to boost the standard of women's football, proposing deliberate support measures to elevate the performance of these teams.

To this end, he announced that the government will provide financial assistance to three clubs participating in continental competitions: Medeama SC, Nations FC, and Ampem Darkoa Ladies. The allocations are GH¢342,000 (US$30,000) for Medeama SC, GH¢228,000 (US$20,000) for Nations FC, and GH¢114,000 (US$10,000) for Ampem Darkoa Ladies.

Furthermore, Mahama committed to incorporating funds in the current financial year's budget for the construction of ten new stadiums across Ghana, including in regions like the Oti, Western North, Ahafo, Bono East, Savannah, and the North East. These new facilities are part of broader initiatives to enhance sports infrastructure nationwide.

Additionally, the president assured that the Sports Development Fund will support other sports, such as athletics and boxing, once it is fully functional, indicating a comprehensive strategy to promote sports development in Ghana.