Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams has called for a strategic initiative to propel sports development across Africa, emphasizing the need for greater regional mobility.
Speaking at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Investor Summit in Kigali, Rwanda on May 22, he stressed that Africa must create an enabling environment for sports growth by removing barriers to movement and fostering regional integration.
The summit, which gathered prominent stakeholders from Africa’s sports and infrastructure sectors, focused on leveraging sports as a driver of economic growth and sustainable development on the continent.
Mr Adams participated in a high-level panel alongside Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
The discussion highlighted opportunities for investment in sports infrastructure and strategies for industry sustainability.
Referring to Ghana’s efforts under President John Dramani Mahama, Hon. Adams stated, “Africa should be able to travel freely among its nations.” He emphasized that easing movement across borders would significantly benefit sports development and economic progress.
He also underscored the importance of investing in grassroots and youth programs saying: “If we want to produce elite athletes, we must build a strong foundation,” he said. “Ghana has established structures like the Grassroots Sports Secretariat and the School Sports Organization to nurture young talent from an early age.”
Acknowledging that government initiatives alone are not enough, Mr Adams called for the strengthening of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks to attract private sector investments.
“A clear and well-defined PPP structure is essential so investors know the proper channels to follow,” he explained.
He concluded by emphasizing Africa’s potential as a producer of sporting talent.
“Africa must be recognized as a production line for sports, not just a market for athletes. We need to create opportunities here for our athletes to develop and excel.”
The event was attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Ministers from various countries, NBA executives, and both current and former basketball stars.
Participants shared a common vision of harnessing sports as a catalyst for economic and social progress across Africa.
