Media personality David Opare Donkor, popularly known as Kwame Wilder, has called on the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to intensify scouting efforts at the ongoing Inter-Schools Athletics Competition in the Ashanti Region.
In an interview, Kwame Wilder said this year’s competition has once again demonstrated that Ghana possesses abundant young athletic talent that requires structured development and sustained investment.
He highlighted standout performers including Nora Afoakwa of Adventist Senior High School and Fulera of T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School (T.I. Amass), describing their performances as evidence of the country’s untapped potential.
“This competition shows clearly that Ghana is not short of raw athletic ability,” he said. “With proper scouting, training structures and long-term investment, these young athletes can represent the nation on international platforms.”
Call for Homegrown Talent Development
Kwame Wilder urged sports authorities to reconsider Ghana’s athlete recruitment strategy, advocating stronger emphasis on nurturing homegrown talents from senior high schools.
While acknowledging past efforts, he suggested that prioritizing local athlete development would yield more sustainable results than relying heavily on foreign-based competitors.
“Our schools are producing champions,” he noted. “What they need is consistent monitoring, professional training systems and deliberate investment.”
Citing Past Success
He referenced the success of Martha Bissah, a former student of Aduman Senior High School, who rose through Ghana’s school athletics system to win gold at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.
According to him, Bissah’s achievement demonstrates the potential of the inter-schools structure when properly supported.
Grassroots Focus
Kwame Wilder cautioned against neglecting grassroots competitions, describing the Inter-Schools Athletics Competition as one of Ghana’s most reliable talent identification platforms.
“If we neglect these young athletes, we risk losing future champions,” he said. “But if we invest in them today, they will reward Ghana tomorrow.”
He concluded by urging the Ghana Athletics Association and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to implement sustainable development programmes aimed at identifying, nurturing and promoting promising athletes from across the country.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
