Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, has called on African countries to reposition sport as a strategic economic driver, warning that the continent risks remaining a talent exporter while others reap the financial rewards.
Adams made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the AIPS Africa Conference in Banjul, The Gambia.
He praised the Gambian government for strengthening its sports governance structure and supporting youth development and media engagement.
The minister noted that although Africa produces world-class athletes and boasts a passionate fan base, the continent’s sports economy remains significantly underdeveloped.
He said Africa generates only a small fraction of global sports revenue despite accounting for a large share of the world’s population.
According to him, major challenges facing African sport include poor infrastructure, weak commercialisation, governance concerns and restrictions on intra-African travel that affect athletes, officials and journalists.
He stressed that without stronger policies and investment, Africa would struggle to build sustainable domestic sports industries.
Adams highlighted several examples of progress on the continent, including Morocco’s sports infrastructure investments, Rwanda’s use of sport for tourism and global visibility, and Tanzania’s revitalised domestic football league through improved marketing and fan engagement.
He also outlined reforms in Ghana’s sports sector, including the return of the Ghana Premier League to free-to-air television, increased financial support for clubs and the establishment of a permanent Sports Fund to finance infrastructure, grassroots programmes and elite athlete development.
He added that Ghana hosted multiple international sporting events in 2025 and will stage upcoming continental championships in athletics and armwrestling.
The minister further urged sports journalists across Africa to uphold balanced and responsible reporting, describing credible media coverage as essential for attracting sponsorship and building confidence in African sport.
He equally called for stronger regional coordination, improved mobility for athletes and fans, and greater investment in fan culture and non-football disciplines to unlock the continent’s full sports potential.