The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif on Thursday, 18th November, established an investment fund with Glico Pensions Fund for the National U20 Team, the Black Satellites.
The Minister in his speech disclosed that the ministry has adopted a policy to invest a portion of the winning bonuses of national athletes to secure a better future for them after their services.
Hon. Ussif believes the inability to invest revenues generated at the peak of our athlete’s careers has made many miserable after their sporting career. “This makes them rather become paupers or burden on the society at the end of their career.”
“In order to address this challenge, I had a discussion with H.E. the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, when the U-20 Team became the African Champions on how to present the Presidential Package. He then advised that we invest 50% of their winning bonuses towards their future, ” he added.
He also admonished young athletes to invest their resources to ensure they have a secured and better future. This he believes will secure the future of our national heroes and athletes.
The Operations Manager of Glico Pensions, Mr. Cassiel Ntiswin Atuliba thanked the Minister for his generational thoughts and assured him of his company’s commitment to helping the ministry achieve the purpose of the policy.
The Greater Accra Regional Football President, Mr Samuel Atuabire who represented the Ghana Football Association expressed his delight to the Minister and encourage football clubs in the country to emulate the policy across the board.
The National U20 Team Coach, Abdul-Karim Zito also thanked the minister and government for the policy. The policy he disclosed will serve as a morale booster for our sportsmen and women who would be serving the country.
On Thursday morning, the minister presented the presidential reward package to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team. Samuel Takyi in addition to his USD 10,000, received a brand new Nissan Sunny Sedan vehicle. All other athletes in the team had USD 5,000 each.
The first beneficiaries of this policy are the Black Satellites team that won gold at the Africa U20 Tournament in Mauritania and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Team. A sum of USD 130,000.00 has been invested for the U20 team and USD 150,000.00 for the Tokyo Olympic Team.
