Pius Hadzide, a former Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, has explained why Ghana’s Sports Ministry frequently finds itself at the centre of controversies and scandals.
Ghana has experienced a high turnover of Sports Ministers, with reports suggesting that 28 individuals have been appointed to the position since 1979, compared with 15 Finance Ministers over the same period.
The ministry has also faced recurring controversies, including allegations of visa racketeering, misappropriation of funds and other forms of corruption. Since 2001, such allegations have featured in the tenures of several substantive Sports Ministers.
Explaining the situation, Hadzide pointed to the ministry’s limited control over the various agencies it works with, suggesting that this makes it difficult for the ministry to exercise full oversight over their activities.
He further disclosed that in Ghana, there is a dedicated attention to sports in this country, adding that when a pin drops, sports journalists notice that something has gone amiss.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he stated, “There are peculiarities at the Ministry that make relationship management a little tricky. We work with stakeholders over whom we do not have total control. Such as the GFA, which is an independent association, not an organ of state.”
“The Minister’s influence over, for instance, the Ghana Football or Swimming Federation is limited because they have their own rules, and if you go in too much, you stand accused of interference. While with other agencies, the Minister has full grasp of the agencies they work with.”
“The other leg of the problem, which I believe is a blessing rather than a curse, is the sheer amount of work that journalists do in that area.”
“You’ll find that there is dedicated attention to sports in this country. Across the other ministries, you don’t find (spector-specific) programs like Agric programs or health programs (on radio or television) as much as sports journalists, like Muftawu Nabila Abdulai and Fentuo Tahiru, do.”
“So their eyes are always on the ball so when a pin drops, they are able to notice that something has gone amiss.”
“I suspect that if that was what was happening across other Ministries, the Sports Ministry would have paled into insignificance (presumably because the scandals from other Ministries would have been bigger).”
His comment comes on the heels of Kofi Adams the Sports Minister, who accused Gyimah of being behind allegations of visa fraud against him and other government officials.
The Sports Minister detailed that Gyimah had allegedly been providing the MP with false information to divert attention from money he claimed the Tribe Culture Fest CEO had improperly collected under an agreement with the NSA to transport Ghanaians to the 2026 World Cup.
Kofi Adams alleged that Gyimah received about US$611,000 unlawfully and was using various narratives to avoid refunding the money.
“He cannot run away with $611,000 of people’s money. We must make sure that we get him, and if it is found that right from the word go, he deceived the people, we must take the appropriate criminal actions,” the minister stated.
However, Nana Boateng Gyimah, the Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Culture Fest, has demanded that the Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, provide evidence following his claims that people associated with the organisation received US$611,000 in connection with visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Tribe Culture Fest CEO, in a statement, denied the allegation, claiming that his company’s agreement was with the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
He further categorically denied the allegations that the Tribe Culture Fest illegally received US$611,000 and is avoiding a refund.
According to Nana Boateng Gyimah, Tribe Culture did not receive the alleged US$611,000 from any private individual in connection with the arrangements in question.
He further challenged the Sports Minister to produce the evidence supporting his claims.
@ghnow_ Friends and colleagues of Kumawood actress Vivian Jill Lawrence gather to support her as she mourns the loss of her elder sister, Auntie Mabel. 🕊️💔 #GHNow #VivianJill #AuntieMabel #fyp ♬ original sound – Wasako Lyrics
@ghnow_ Friends and colleagues of Kumawood actress Vivian Jill Lawrence gather to support her as she mourns the loss of her elder sister, Auntie Mabel. 🕊️💔 #GHNow #VivianJill #AuntieMabel #fyp ♬ original sound – Wasako Lyrics
