Accra, Aug 3, GNA - Lack of funds has this year stalled programmes mapped up by the various associations under the National Sports Council (NSC).

Disciplines like Badminton, Weightlifting, Body building and Karate Do among others have seen their programmes remain untouched as they await funds from the Council for implementation.

Information gathered by the GNA Sports at the secretariats of the various associations indicates that though the year is fast zooming to it's final quarter, most of the associations are yet to organise a single programme as their annual budget presented to the Ministry of Educations and Sports through the NSC have still not been released. This development has apparently angered some of the Chairmen of the Associations who argue that less attention is given to their sport. A check from the accounts section of the NSC has revealed that inadequate funds made available to the Council by the Ministry of Finance remain the sole cause of the disturbing hiccups.

According to the information, the Council received 5.6 billion cedis budgetary approval from the Ministry of Finance this year, a figure described as woefully inadequate.

The GNA Sports gathered that out of the more than the 20 associations under the Council, only Athletics, Tennis, Table Tennis, Tae Kwando, Volleyball and the national deaflympic team have benefited from the 5.6 billion cedis, thus leaving the rest at a disadvantage. Mr Charles James Aryeh, Acting Chief Executive of the NSC underscored the need for sponsorship to support the associations in the face of the canker of inadequate budgetary allocation that has existed at the Council for ages now.

Mr Aryeh explained to the GNA Sports that, "until these associations decide to travel the extra mile in search of the required sponsorship to support their activities, their programmes will continue to suffer".

He said the need to take such worthy initiatives of seeking for sponsorship must be the prime of the activities of the associations for each year.

According to Mr Aryeh, the Council alone cannot shoulder the huge financial burdens of the associations and urged the various leaders to be innovative and find avenues for raising funds apart from the budgetary allocations to organise their programmes.