Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, has addressed the Authority’s decision to boycott the ongoing two-day National Sports Consultative Conference organized by the Ministry of Sports in Freetown.
In an exclusive interview with Rise Radio, Dr. Abdulai stated that the NSA was never invited to the conference, an omission he described as both “surprising” and “troubling,” given the Authority’s statutory responsibility for sports governance in Sierra Leone.
According to him, the NSA plays a central role in formulating, supervising, and implementing national sports policies, and therefore should be fully involved in any process relating to the development or review of sports laws.
“We were not invited. The whole process of developing or discussing national sports law should include all of us,” Dr. Abdulai said. “They planned it without NSA involvement, and that is neither proper nor in the interest of sports development.”
He added that excluding the Authority raises serious concerns about institutional coordination and adherence to established mandates.
Dr. Abdulai emphasized that meaningful progress in Sierra Leone’s sports administration requires inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration among all key stakeholders. He noted that the NSA remains committed to working with the Ministry of Sports and other partners to advance the sector, but stressed that such cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect, proper communication, and compliance with national governance frameworks.
Despite the misunderstanding, Dr. Abdulai reassured the public and Rise Radio listeners that the NSA will continue championing reforms aimed at strengthening sports governance, supporting athletes, and boosting the country’s competitiveness locally and internationally.
He called for improved coordination moving forward to avoid similar incidents, warning that lapses in communication can derail progress in the sports sector.
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