Ga Mantse Tennis Open: NSA Chief Yaw Ampofo Ankrah Advocates Greater Tennis Investment, Points to Multi-Million-Dollar Prize Pools
The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has made a compelling case for increased investment in tennis, describing the sport as a major avenue for wealth creation, youth employment, and economic growth in Ghana.
Speaking at the official launch of the Ga Mantse Tennis Open at the forecourt of the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra on Thursday, Mr. Ampofo Ankrah urged policymakers, corporate organisations, and sports stakeholders to look beyond football and invest strategically in tennis, which he described as one of the world’s most lucrative sports.
Addressing traditional leaders, sports officials, athletes, and invited guests, the NSA Director-General stressed that tennis has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar global industry capable of transforming the lives of talented young athletes.
Tennis is not just a sport; it is a multi-billion-dollar industry. We must look beyond football and invest in disciplines like tennis that have proven pathways to wealth creation,” he said.
To illustrate the sport’s immense commercial value, Mr. Ampofo Ankrah highlighted the enormous prize money available at some of the world’s biggest tennis tournaments.
He noted that the 2025 US Open awarded its men’s and women’s singles champions prize money running into millions, while Wimbledon 2025 paid £3 million each to its singles champions. Similarly, the French Open offered €2.55 million to its winners, underlining the significant financial rewards available at the highest level of the sport.
The NSA boss also referenced the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, where the world’s top eight male players compete at the end of the season, noting that an undefeated champion at the 2025 edition could earn a record prize purse worth millions.
“When you look at these figures, you begin to understand the scale of the opportunity,” he remarked.
“Ghana has the talent. What we lack is the systematic investment needed to develop that talent into world-class competitors capable of succeeding on the international stage.”
Mr. Ampofo Ankrah believes Ghana can build a sustainable sports economy by investing in disciplines with strong global commercial appeal, creating opportunities not only for elite athletes but also for coaches, administrators, event organisers, sports marketers, broadcasters, and other professionals within the sports ecosystem.
His remarks align with the government’s broader vision of repositioning sports as a significant contributor to Ghana’s economic development. With sports currently contributing approximately 1.4 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), government aims to increase that contribution through strategic investment, improved infrastructure, talent development, and stronger partnerships across multiple sporting disciplines.
Since his appointment as Director-General of the National Sports Authority by President John Dramani Mahama in March 2025, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has consistently advocated for greater support for sports beyond football, arguing that disciplines such as tennis possess enormous untapped potential.
His latest call also reinforces recent appeals by the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, who has urged the corporate sector to provide greater sponsorship and visibility for tennis and other emerging sports in Ghana.
With initiatives such as the Ga Mantse Tennis Open gaining momentum, stakeholders hope the renewed attention will inspire greater investment, uncover new talent, and position Ghana as a competitive force in African and international tennis.