Government Has Neglected Ghana Tennis for 15 Years – Ghana Tennis Federation President Isaac Aboagye Duah

Government Has Neglected Ghana Tennis for 15 Years – Ghana Tennis Federation President Isaac Aboagye Duah The President of the Ghana Tennis Federation, Isaac Aboagye Duah, has expressed disappointment over what he describes as 15 years of inadequate government support for tennis, saying the federation has largely depended on private individuals and the tennis community to keep the sport alive. Speaking in an interview on ICADTV Sports, Isaac Aboagye Duah revealed that Ghana’s Under-14 team, which represented the country in Togo on January, was unable to qualify for the West Africa Regional Championships. He, however, highlighted a major achievement by the national men’s team, the Golden Rackets, which secured promotion to Group III after an impressive performance in Kenya in June. According to the Tennis Federation President, government support is usually provided only for major multi-sport events such as the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the African Games, while individual sports federations like tennis receive little or no financial assistance. “For the past 15 years, we have not received financial support from the government as a federation. We have written several letters requesting assistance, but we have had to depend on private support to keep our programmes running,” he said. He acknowledged the contributions of Amoako Boafo Thomas, Kempinski Hotel, Samuel Antwi, and members of the tennis community, who raised funds to purchase jerseys and provide logistical support for Ghana’s participation in international competitions. The Tennis Federation President praised the commitment and resilience of Ghana’s tennis players, saying they continue to represent the country with determination despite the federation’s financial challenges. “It is always difficult, but the players continue to put smiles on their faces and represent Ghana with determination. Their commitment keeps us going,” he stated. He expressed optimism that the proposed Sports Fund would provide much-needed financial relief for federations that have struggled to secure funding. Isaac Aboagye Duah further disclosed that the federation has submitted its budget to the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, and is awaiting a response. “We present our accounts every year and remain transparent. If there is anything the authorities are not satisfied with, they can always engage us. At the very least, we expect the government to show greater interest in supporting tennis because our athletes continue to make Ghana proud,” he concluded.