Ghana’s President, John Mahama has announced a significant reduction in the number of ministries. As part of this restructuring, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been replaced by a newly established Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
This decision forms part of the government’s efforts to streamline operations, improve service delivery, and address concerns over resource allocation. The government aims to eliminate redundancies and improve policy coordination by consolidating certain ministries.
Consequently, the new Ministry of Sports and Recreation is expected to broaden its scope beyond youth-focused sports. It will now encompass recreational activities that promote physical and mental well-being for all Ghanaian citizens.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has undergone several transformations and reconfigurations over the years to address evolving national priorities. For instance:
1982: The Ministry of Youth and Sports was initially established by integrating the youth and sports sub-sectors into a single entity.
2005: A major restructuring saw the creation of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, combining the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the Ministry of Education to streamline operations.
2006: Subsequently, the youth sub-sector was transferred to the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, leading to the formation of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth, and Employment. At the same time, the sports sub-sector was merged with science and education, resulting in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sports.
2009: Finally, in response to the need for a dedicated focus on youth and sports development, the Ministry of Youth and Sports was re-established as an independent body.
Below is the Executive Instrument
Source: Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ghana
