By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
On Friday 30th August, 2024, the Ministry of Sports (MOS) and the National Sports Authority (NSA) have presented their individuals 2025 Financial Year Budgets to Finance Ministry administrators.
The budget discussions planning for 2025 are being held at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters at George Street in Freetown.
In his presentation, the Executive Director of National Sports Authority, Dr. Emmunal Saffa Abdulia clearly explained to the budget experts and journalists that NSA is requesting Three Hundred and Twenty-Four billion , One Hundred and Thirty Six million, Six Hundred and Eight Thousand Leones (324,136,680.0) exceeding NLe 121, 894,700 ceiling meant to promote various sporting disciplines in the country for the year 2025.
Mr Abdulai, Esq. highlighted critical institutional challenges including inadequate office accommodation in the regions i.e. Makeni, PortLoko, Kambia, Bo, Kenema etc, adding that there are existing logistical pressures, no vehicles to support operation, and so the supervision and monitoring of sporting activities across the country are greatly affected. He said NSA is facing financial problems to supporting the 56 sporting disciplines in the country, and that the absence of the sporting equipment and kits to support sports tournaments for both national and international competitions are coupled with limited, and poor sports playing grounds over the years.
He stated that the money would be used to finance the proposed national and international sporting completions by 2025.
He highlighted the key supporting events like the national sports festival, inter-force games, and national sports associations.
“Out of 56 sporting disciplines, NSA will only support 5 at the international tournaments based on our ranking system because some associations are not effective though they are registered with NSA.
“The implementation of the national sports development funds regulations, he said, would ease the problems they are having in the sporting sector, somehow,” he affirmed.
Saffa Abdulai said the 2025 Budget is anchored on promoting local sports to entice job creation, foster national cohesion, and propel infrastructural development in the country.
“Our FY 2025 budget focuses more on job creation, which is one of Government’s Big Five Game-Changers. We are the only sector that has the propensity to employ over 3,000 people within eight months, using the just concluded Sierra Leone Male and female premier leagues as an example,” Dr. Abdulai pointed out.
In addition to job creation, the NSA Chief said the Agency is also determined to construct new sports facilities and rehabilitate existing ones across the country.
Speaking prior to the budget presentation, Sports Minister Madam Augusta James-Teima, said sport needs huge budget as its activities can create massive jobs for the youth in the country.
She appealed to the Finance Ministry to consider the huge task associated with sport activities.
Presenting on behalf of the Ministry of Sports, Sports Director Mustapha Haroine Korgie, told the gathering that they had drafted six policies that speak to different emerging issues in sports such as gender, ranking, funding among others. He clarified that the NSA is the technical wing of the Ministry tasked with the implementation of all activities relating to sports in the country. He described the relationship between the two institutions as very cordial.
Officials of the Ministry of Finance, the media, and non-state actors commended both institutions for their PowerPoint presentations backed up with pictorial evidence showcasing the number of medals and trophies won by Sierra Leonean athletes in respective sporting disciplines at the international stage.
The National Sports Authority is an agency of Government established by an Act of Parliament with the mandate to promote, encourage, develop, and supervise all sports and sporting activities and to provide support for other related matters.