Hope on a Broken Court: The Future of Basketball in Tema Community 4.

 By Adjei Richard Adjetey

Despite basketball’s rising popularity among Ghanaian youth, especially males and an increasing number of females, the country continues to produce very few professional players. Many blame a lack of infrastructure, professional pathways, and systemic support as the key reasons why talented players fade out before reaching their prime.Making the sporting activity less attractive, making people with passion to hide in their shells.

Image of basketball players

Passion For the Game

Right in Tema Community four is the Chinese basketball court a venue that has hosted several  basketball league championship over years but now in disarray due to it dusty concrete court,cracked walls and rusted rims,serving as threat to  young players to effective train for their future. Despite the threat these young players as young as 13 years are willing to  make appearance because of  passion rather than opportunities.

“We play because we love the game”,says Selorm Ocloo.”But it is hard to stay motivated knowing there is a least chance of making a future out of it.

In as much as Ghana is not recognized as a country where this sport dominant as compared to Spain, Australia and the United States of America, the country has a basket ball association that has been hosting tournaments among university students hence the question is, what is being done to bridge the gap in basketball from the community level?

Hindrances 

Unlike football, where nearly every community has a pitch to play at a very tender age,that’s not the case for basketball. Most of these technically active players were either  lucky enough to live near military barracks, technical universities, or select courts like Tudu, Tema AB Court, or Hoops Court and the Chinese court  to sharpen their skills “even then, the courts are in poor shape,” Coach Bernard Kwesi, a youth trainer based in Tema stated, explaining that “We don’t have a single internationally approved basketball arena in the country. Bukom Arena is the closest, and that’s a multi-purpose venue, not a dedicated facility.”

Skill Practice

The majority of basketball players with impressive technical abilities who made waves in 2024 during the C4 basketball champions tournament  revealed in an interview that they began playing purely out of passion, often imitating moves they saw in NBA games without any formal guidance from qualified coaches or technical personnel. Typically, the only time these players experience organized play under the supervision of trained officials is during Senior High School competitions, and even then, they participate in fewer than ten games throughout the entire season. This limited exposure means, causing many players to miss out on fully understanding and applying the official rules of the game. Consequently, the small number of properly supervised matches makes it difficult to accurately assess players' true potential, ultimately hindering their overall development in the sport.

As basketball continues to grow in popularity among Ghanaian youth,there is also a critical hindrance that remains largely unaddressed.  This is inadequacy of qualified coaches and technical personnel across the country. Many community basketball teams are led by former players or passionate volunteers who have little to no formal coaching training. While their dedication is commendable, coach Kwesi opined that lacking these  expertise is holding back the development of players and the sport as a whole.

 Media silence

While basketball continues to gain traction among Ghanaian youth, its growth is being stifled by limited media coverage and lack of consistent publicity. Unlike football, which dominates headlines, airwaves, and primetime slots, basketball remains largely absent from mainstream sports conversations in Ghana. This media silence has contributed to a lack of visibility for local tournaments, players, and emerging talents ultimately discouraging sponsors and weakening community interest.

Vanessa Yawson, a standout player from the Tema Community Basketball Club Hoops Clubshared her frustration with the situation.

“Sometimes we play really intense, well-organized games, and no camera, no radio, nothing. You go home after giving your best, and it’s like it never happened,” she said.”Footballers get interviews, highlight reels, fan pages. We also train every day, but without the media, how will anyone know what we’re doing?”

Vanessa Yawson believes that if local sports stations and social media platforms consistently featured basketball content, it would attract more fans, encourage participation, and open doors for sponsorship and scholarships. For now, players like her rely on self-promotion through personal social media accounts and word-of-mouth to gain any form of recognition.

No Path to Pro

Basketball Association of Ghana exists in name, but its visibility and structure pale compared to the Ghana Football Association. Youth leagues are inconsistent, coaching certification is limited, and there’s no clear path to a professional career.

Hope and Hustle

The passion for basketball is undeniable. On weekends, the Chinese court comes alive with mini tournaments organized by local clubs. There are even digital communities springing up Instagram pages, YouTube highlights, and youth showcase events.

Still, Coach Bernard is realistic. “We can’t keep telling kids to chase dreams we’ve made impossible. If we don’t invest in courts, training, leagues and visibility, we’ll keep losing talent.”

What's Next?

Players and trainers believe a small start, rehabilitating existing courts, organizing consistent zonal leagues, and prioritizing school-based competitions could change the narrative. There is also growing pressure on the Ministry of Youth and Sports to recognize basketball as a viable sector for youth employment and global recognition.

Until then, Ghana’s most gifted basketball players remain largely invisible known only to their local courts and social media followers, rather than the world they dream of conquering.