Why sports is not developing in Volta region.

When it comes to sports, Volta region is a force to reckon with in Ghana. The region has exhibited to the country some superior skills in many sporting disciplines ranging from Football, Handball, Table tennis, Badminton and volleyball etc. However the most recent national unity games, the Volta region was no where to be found and this is a source of worry to the people. The problem of the decline of Sports in Volta region can be attributed to the following.

• Lack of sporting facilities

Despite the good success achieved by the Volta region, the Ho Sports Stadium remains the only facility in the region that hosts most of the sporting activities in the region. The stadium has not seen any form of infrastructural development in recent years. The green grasses are unkempt and provides difficulty to the footballers playing on the pitch. The fence wall of the stadium is also broken halfway posing a lot of security threats to the athletes and the spectator’s present. To the few fans that cherish and appreciate the game and want to have a feel of it are also left to the mercy of the scorching sun.

The regional basketball court is nothing to write home about as the laid concrete has developed cracks. The markings on the courts are all completely wiped off due to rains. The polls and the rims are very weak and is another danger to the people.

The region cannot boast of a boxing ring which facilitates the training sections of the amateur boxers. The Ho polytechnic ring serves as the only source of venue for the boxers and is not even open to the boxers at all times this the boxers describe as very worrying.

The regional Hockey Park, volleyball court and all other developing sports have the same story to tell.

• The second problem is lack of provision of sporting equipments and inadequate coaches.

Surprisingly equipments and coaches play a vital role in sports development. To promote sport the region, the Volta regional sports authority in collaboration with the national sports authority must made some equipment readily available as the cost of some of the equipment cannot be afford by most of them. Regional Sports Authority does not have Hockey stick, Football boots, and training kits at the disposal of sportsmen. This was the reason for the abysmal performance of the team Volta. Until today Volta region still does not have any well equipped athletic training facility or gym for our athletes to use during training. It's about time that the sports Authority creates world class gyms for our players and promotes more coaching courses and also to sponsors our coaches to training programs around the world to improve the quality of coaching.

• Again the disengagement between Inter School Sports and the Regional Sports Authority.

The physical education department of Ghana education service is in charge of organizing inter-school sports around the region. It is through this competition that a lot of new talents are exposed. However during such competitions the only thing that sports authority executives do is to get there and read long scripts at the opening and closing ceremonies. The athletes at the end of the competition go back to their villages to wait for another year or two for another regional event. What should happen next after the inter-schools? How many school athletes are recruited to join regional teams? Is the ladder useful so that regional level athletes are polished and recruited to join the regional teams? Do we recognize our young athletes as capable of joining a national team or an Olympic team? What is the role of the regional sports authority in the region? Does the Volta regional sports authority have a cadre of coaches to work with these talents when they are identified? There appears to be a clear disconnection between the various facets of sports in the region. This is a very serious matter and there is the need for effective collaboration.

• The lack of sponsorship of tournaments and competitions in the region is another problem.

Gone were the days when we have all kinds of sponsorships coming to the Volta region. I remember the Mobil games, Milo Tournaments and the forces games. Tournaments and competitions give athletes the platform to showcase to the world their skills and talents. Constant training without competition kills the motivation of the athletes. The lack of ready sponsorship packages in the region is killing sportsmanship in the region. Corporate organizations and individuals have taken no delight in the promotion of sports in the region. The region has many of its citizens in top position of government. Akua Sena Dansua MP for the North Dayi constituency and the former Minister for Youth and Sports, Clement Kofi Humado the Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency and the current Minister for Youth and Sports are among some of the personalities within the sports arena who are in a position to help promote the games but has failed Voltarians. Mr. Worlanyo K. Agra, the Chief Executive of the National Sports Authority among seems to be unconcern. Until when will our stakeholders be concern?

• The Neglects by the Municipal/District Assemblies.

The consistent neglect by the various municipal/district assemblies is also contributing to the decline of sports in the region. Many football clubs and sportsmen express their displeasure for this persistent neglect. They always fume about the reaction of the Assemblies any time they make the approach for assistance.

The Municipal/District Assemblies are partners in sports development in the region but it looks as if this function is not known to them and fails in that core functions hence this lukewarm attitude.

If the region can over come all this predicaments,the volta region will once again reclaim it status in the sporting arena in Ghana

Source: Adzie Eric Eli.