NSA boss makes strong case for tennis investment, citing multi-million dollar global prize pools

The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has shared his thoughts about Ghana channelling investment into tennis, describing the sport as a goldmine for wealth creation and youth employment.

Mr Ampofo Ankrah made the remarks on Thursday at the official launch of the Ga Mantse Tennis Open, held at the forecourt of the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra. The tournament, which attracted top local and regional players, served as the platform for the NSA boss to lay out his vision for elevating tennis from a niche activity to a major economic driver.

A Multi-Billion-Dollar Industry

Addressing a gathering of traditional leaders, officials, and athletes, Mr Ankrah pointed to the staggering prize purses on offer at elite international tournaments as undeniable proof of the sport’s financial viability.

“Tennis is not just a sport; it is a multi-billion-dollar industry,” he stated. “We must look beyond football and invest in disciplines like tennis that have proven pathways to wealth creation.”

He cited the 2025 US Open, where the men’s and women’s singles champions each walked away with 90 million. At Wimbledon 2025, singles champions earned £3 million (approximately $4.07 million) each, while the French Open offered €2.55 million (about $2.9 million) to its winners.

The NSA Chief also highlighted the Nitto ATP Finals, the season-ending showdown for the world’s top eight male players. An undefeated champion at the 2025 edition takes home a record 15.5 million.

“When you look at these figures — $5 million for a single tournament victory — you begin to understand the scale of the opportunity,” he remarked. “Ghana has the talent. What we lack is the systematic investment to develop that talent to world-class level.”

Strategic Push for Sports Economy

The Director-General’s call aligns with the broader vision of President which has set an ambitious target to reposition sports as a major contributor to Ghana’s economy. Sports currently contributes about 1.4 per cent to the country’s GDP, and the government is determined to raise that figure through deliberate investment and structural reforms across multiple sporting disciplines.

The NSA Director General is a seasoned sports journalist turned administrator who was appointed by President Mahama in March 2025. He has previously emphasised the need to revive lesser-known sports that receive little attention. His latest remarks build on recent calls by the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, for increased corporate backing and publicity for tennis.