The Deputy Minister of Education designate, Dr Clement Abass Apaak, has responded to the issues about abandoned grassroot sports.
During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Dr Apaak asserted belief in Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, whom he will be working under will bring about innovative solutions for school programs.
Dr Apaak posited trust that Haruna Iddrisu could bridge the gap by embracing private-sector support, especially at the school level.
"Thank you Mr. Chairman. Sports is a very important activity, not just because it keeps us fit, but it’s also a source of great entertainment," he said.
"I have been a sportsperson, a sportsman myself. I mean, I played volleyball. One of my playing colleagues is seated right by the chairman. I played football. I played table tennis.
"My younger brother, who is here, played basketball all the way to the national level. And you are right, it is not the way it used to be, and that should be a cause of worry.
"My minister is a sports enthusiast himself. He plays football himself. And I think the challenge we face, as you rightly alluded to, is funding and is inadequacy.
"Given that he is a sportsperson himself, I believe very strongly that he would find in genius ways to get private sector involvement to support sports in our schools, even as we look at what we can do to provide some support as a nation for sports and sporting activities to go on in our school system.
"Sports cannot be neglected, a very important activity that ought to be supported. We all do it. We buy the footballs, the Jerseys and we provide the funding to support the district directories of education to organize sporting activities," he concluded.
By: Pascal Amoah
