By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
Emphasizing the significance of sports both in jobs creation and in building a more cohesive society, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA) has made a solemn appeal to MPs, Finance and other sectors involved to consider an increments of the Authority’s budget allocation for the 2025 Fiscal Year.
The NSA Executive Director made this appeal on Tuesday 3rd December 2024 during its engagement with the Sub-Appropriation Committee Group 6 at State Hall in Parliament.
The engagement was a constitutional process to examine the previous and present budget allocations of the Authority in line with its past and proposed activities.
During NSA engagement with Members of Parliament representing the Committe chaired by Hon. Ambrose Maada Lebby, the NSA Executive Director Mr Emmanuel shared some progress achieved over the years and as well as the challenges encountered. He briefed that since he took over the authority about seven months ago, NSA had been supporting 10 crowded sports including hand ball, roll ball, valley ball and others.
NSA boss continued that those sporting activities including Football have been providing a great number of jobs for youth in the country, contributing to the President Big Five Game Changer. He emphasized that NSA provides jobs to all set of people, including the illiterates from the slums and makes them super stars as he mentioned the likes of Fabianski.
He informed that there had also been some major infrastructural developments adding that some are still in progress. He underscored the unity, peace and cohesive sports brings to all Sierra Leoneans. Mr. Saffa also made mentioned of economic impacts from the sector and assured that if much is given much more would be realized.
The NSA Executive Director however expressed some of the challenges associated with the sector. One of the major challenges he emphasized was limited resources, as he revealed that they sometimes had to lend money to go and play some games. He disclosed how NSA had developed plans to effectively support ten major sporting activities which would all require good funds.
In order to address some of those major resources challenge and efficiently transform the authority, Mr. Saffa revealed that he presented a budget proposal of over 300 million Leones but said only sixty-six million Leones was approved by the Ministry of Finance in the budget. Understanding the financial situation of the country, he immensely appreciated the Ministry of Finance and appealed for some increments. He extended his appeal to MPs of the Committee for advocation.
As there were concerns on the country’s Football situation, NSA Emmanuel Saffa assure revealed the new approach the National Sports Authority is developing and assured of greater prospects in the following years. He acknowledged the performance of the country’s national team but made made stronger assurance of better performance going forward.