By Ishmael Zay-Bangura
Freetown, 16th February 2026- In a move to unify and accelerate the advancement of athletics nationwide, the National Sports Authority (NSA) convened its 2026 Sports Growth Conference on Friday at City Hall’s View Conference. The gathering brought together more than forty officials from NSA-registered sporting disciplines and organizations, transforming a routine assembly into a dynamic forum of ideas designed to shape the Authority’s operational blueprint.
The conference opened with a strong emphasis on the transformative power of sport for Sierra Leone’s youth. Dr. Abdul Rahman Swaray, Deputy Executive Director of NSA, underscored the centrality of young people to the country’s sporting vision. Representing the NSA Board Chairman, Francis Sahr Alpha, Head of Sport at Fourah Bay College, framed sport as a vehicle for national progress.
“Sport is a powerful tool for national transformation. Sport development must be strategic and inclusive, requiring policy direction. We need to commit ourselves to practical actions that elevate sport across the country,” he said.
Government representatives echoed the call for collective action. Sahid Mohamed Conteh, Director of Physical Health Education at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, who chaired the event, described sport as “the best subject in the world,” urging participants to engage deeply with the conference’s objectives. Launching the conference on behalf of the Sports Minister, Haroun Korjie, Director of Sports at the Ministry of Sport, stressed the importance of synergy and governance.
“We encourage synergy rather than fragmentation. But note that good governance is key, and it is a national requirement. This conference will explore innovation,” he told the gathering, urging commitment to “practical implementable outcomes.”
The highpoint of the event was a comprehensive presentation by Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, Executive Director of NSA, who outlined the Authority’s achievements and ambitious roadmap. He highlighted five new regulatory frameworks ready for implementation and provided updates on the Nationwide Artificial Turf Project, with projects already underway in Kailahun and two other districts. He also confirmed NSA’s presence in all 22 district councils and urged associations to expand their reach.
Dr. Abdulai emphasized talent identification, infrastructure, and athlete support as strategic priorities.
“People and talent will be at the heart of the new drive. We have to find predictable funding as infrastructure is key,” he said, announcing the imminent partial handover of National Stadium facilities, including the practice field, swimming pool, and hostel.
He also pledged stronger commitments to athletes and associations.
“NSA is committed to robust anti-doping mechanisms. We are building the capacity of our staff. In the coming weeks, we are going to provide funding for those sporting associations that have league seasons and meet our benchmarks. Athletes should be paid monthly. The top ones should not go to universities and pay, we have to give them scholarships,” he declared, calling for innovative funding models to sustain growth.
The conference concluded with plenary sessions, where participants generated working points to guide NSA’s internal operations and ensure its mandate is executed with renewed strategic focus.
