Acting Upper East Regional Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Abdul Rahman Danladi, has called for stronger coordination among institutions involved in sports development, saying the lack of collaboration is affecting efforts to identify and develop talent in the region.
Mr Danladi said sporting associations, schools and the National Sports Authority were sometimes operating without adequately coordinating their activities, despite working towards similar objectives.
He cited the preparation of Upper East athletes for recent inter regional competitions as an example, saying his office was not involved early enough even though the Authority had equipment that could have supported the athletes.
“I was only informed that they were in Garu for the inter-districts. And later I was informed that they were training to go to Accra for the inter-regionals,” he said.
According to him, the NSA had tracksuits and other sporting items available but could not provide them because the Authority was not contacted during preparations.
Mr Danladi said stronger coordination between the NSA and school sports authorities could help ensure that available resources are used effectively and young athletes receive the necessary support.
He also identified inadequate sporting infrastructure and equipment as challenges confronting the region.
“When you look at all of that, our infrastructure and equipment, as a region, do we have the necessary equipment and also the right infrastructure for training? No, I would say no. We have the technical men, but the facilities, no,” he said.
Mr Danladi said the region had people with the technical expertise to train athletes, but inadequate facilities and equipment limited what could be achieved.
He said collaboration with schools was particularly important in developing young athletes and creating a pathway through which talent identified at the basic school level could be nurtured through senior high school and beyond.
According to him, previous attempts to work with schools to establish youth volleyball leagues encountered difficulties, although some schools around the Marble Park area eventually allowed pupils to participate.
Mr Danladi said closer collaboration among schools, sporting associations, the NSA and other stakeholders would make it easier to identify talented children early and provide the support required to develop their abilities.
He recalled that the Upper East Region previously had a strong presence in disciplines including volleyball, football, handball and long distance athletics, but said its national sporting profile had declined over the years.
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