Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, has called for a more deliberate national effort to document and preserve the country’s sporting history, using a tribute to football legend Reverend Osei Kofi as a moment to address what he described as a growing risk of institutional memory loss.
The minister made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the family of the veteran footballer, accompanied by sports journalist Dan Kwaku Yeboah. The delegation called on Adams to formally invite him to an upcoming book launch in honour of Osei Kofi, one of Ghana’s most celebrated players from the 1960s.
“History not documented is history lost,” Adams said, underlining the importance of literary and public efforts in keeping the achievements of past sporting figures alive for younger generations.
Osei Kofi, born on June 3, 1940, played for Asante Kotoko Sporting Club and the Black Stars, serving as joint top scorer at the 1965 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Tunis as Ghana claimed the title for a second consecutive time. He also finished as the third highest scorer at the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations, and won three Ghana Premier League titles with Asante Kotoko in 1964, 1965, and 1967.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Museum has previously recognised Osei Kofi as one of the most skilful African players of his era, noting that he spent his entire club career at Asante Kotoko after turning down a move to Europe during his prime. He is widely known by the nickname “Wizard Dribbler.”
Adams described Osei Kofi’s career as a model combining sporting excellence with national service, drawing particular attention to his decision to remain in Ghana rather than pursue a more lucrative move abroad. “In the days of Rev. Osei Kofi, the commercial aspect of sports did not overshadow nationalism,” the minister said.
He urged younger athletes to draw lessons from that commitment, framing sport as a vehicle for rebuilding national pride alongside discipline and public service. Adams also called for recognition of sporting figures to extend beyond ceremonial occasions, emphasising the sustained role that storytelling and documentation play in shaping national identity.
The book launch forms part of a broader initiative led by Yeboah to preserve the legacy of one of Ghana’s most accomplished footballers through literature and public record.
