Invest in athletes or risk failure in next Olympics – Ghana Athletics president warns

Ghana Athletics President, Bawah Fuseini, is urgently calling on the government for immediate financial support to enhance the country’s athletes as they prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Ghana was represented by six athletes in the track and field events – sprints and high jump – but their attempt of getting to the finals at the very least was unsuccessful.

The country’s medal-drought in the sport now continues since the first participation in 1952.

Bawah warns that without timely intervention, the nation’s chances of making a mark at the next Games will continue to fade.

“Some of them are 20, 21, 22, they can still be in that range for the next four years but as a programme, we still need to have a young [team],” he told JoySports.

“Start giving them financial support now for them to prepare themselves to the next Olympics.”

The call for better preparation of athletes representing the country at major competitions has consistently been ignored, and Bawah warns that the cycle of failure will persist unless immediate action is taken to address this issue.

“We’ve had this conversation several times. If we don’t take time, the next eight years, we will still come back to continue this conversation again,” he reckoned.

“What we need to do is to fund for these national talents, follow their progression from now till 2028.”