Hon Vincent Ekow Assafuah
Old Tafo

Mr Speaker, I rise in my capacity as the Ranking Member for the Committee on Youth and Sports to join in applauding the heroic performance of our Black Queens, who have once again lifted the flag of Ghana high by securing a place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Mr Speaker, beyond the celebration of this victory lies a story of resilience, long-term investment and sustained commitment, particularly in the often-underappreciated area of women’s football. While recent support must be acknowledged, this achievement is undeniably built on the foundation laid by the previous New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Government, which took deliberate steps to reposition women’s sport as a national priority. It was under the leadership of the NPP that we witnessed the revamping of the Women’s Premier League through structured funding and logistical backing. It was again under the leadership of the NPP that we witnessed the construction of the many Astro Turfs and sports infrastructure across the country, providing modern and accessible training facilities.

Mr Speaker, it was under the leadership of the NPP that we witnessed the development of female focused football policy frameworks through the Ghana Football Association (GFA), supported and encouraged by a government that believed in gender equity in sports, and targeted capacity-building programmes for coaches and female sports professionals to ensure quality growth from the grassroots to the national level.

Mr Speaker, these investments were not headlines. They were real, strategic, and visionary. Today, the fruits of that legacy are being harvested, not by any single administration, but by the nation as a whole. Let this moment remind us that national sporting success is not achieved through rhetoric or occasion based praise. It comes through consistent, non-partisan commitment to funding, infrastructure, and talent development, especially for our women.

Mr Speaker, I reaffirm our unwavering support for the Black Queens and all our national teams. I also renew the call for a bipartisan national policy on sports development, one that will protect gains made, ensure equitable investment, and preserve the momentum for the future generations. To the Black Queens, we say ayekoo to you. Continue to carry the torch with pride. Ghana is proud of you, and history is being kind because of your sacrifice.

Mr Speaker, thank you so much, for the kind opportunity.