Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has described the state of Ghana’s athletics championship as a “national embarrassment” following reports and images highlighting poor conditions at the event.
The lawmaker criticised the organisation and management of the championship, arguing that the conditions under which athletes competed failed to reflect the standards expected of a country seeking to promote sports development and nurture young talent.
Speaking on the matter, Mr. Assafuah expressed disappointment over what he described as neglect within Ghana’s sporting sector, insisting that athletes deserve better treatment and investment.
“This is a national embarrassment,” he stated while reacting to conditions surrounding the championship.
According to him, sports development in Ghana cannot progress if athletes continue to compete under poor infrastructure, inadequate support systems, and disorganised conditions.
The comments follow widespread reactions on social media after videos and photographs from the athletics championship circulated online, drawing criticism from many Ghanaians who questioned the state of sports administration in the country.
Some critics argued that despite Ghana’s rich sporting history and talented athletes, inadequate investment and poor planning continue to affect the growth of athletics and other sporting disciplines beyond football.
Mr. Assafuah further called on authorities and sporting administrators to take urgent steps to improve facilities, athlete welfare, and the overall organisation of national sporting competitions.
He warned that failure to properly support athletes could discourage young talents and damage Ghana’s reputation in international sports.
