Ghana and Indonesia explore football partnership as Indonesia's Honorary Consul Rois meets Sports Minister
Ghana and Indonesia are exploring closer cooperation in sports development following high-level talks between Indonesia’s Honorary Consul to Ghana, Paskal A.B. Rois, and the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams.
The courtesy call, held at the Ministry, focused on strengthening bilateral relations through structured collaboration in football and grassroots sports development, while also touching on cultural and educational exchanges.
H.E. Rois indicated that although he has previously facilitated engagements between Indonesia and several Ghanaian ministries, the sports sector had yet to benefit from similar collaboration. He therefore formally expressed his readiness to support the Ministry in advancing its mandate.
He congratulated Ghana and the Minister on the nation’s qualification for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, praising the resilience and commitment of the team and its management.
The Indonesian Honorary Consul revealed that a number of young Ghanaian footballers frequently travel to Indonesia to feature for local clubs, a process he has personally supported through visa facilitation and diplomatic coordination. However, he observed that these movements currently lack a formal intergovernmental framework.
To bridge that gap, he proposed the establishment of a structured bilateral agreement between Ghana and Indonesia to govern sporting exchanges. The proposed framework would cover exchange programmes between clubs, talent and skills transfer, joint training initiatives, exchange matches, capacity building and technology transfer.
According to him, a formalised partnership would not only enhance football development in Indonesia but also create sustainable international opportunities for Ghanaian players and coaches.
Responding to the proposal, Mr Adams outlined the Ministry’s renewed strategic focus under President John Dramani Mahama, with deliberate investment in grassroots and school sports development.
He explained that the government’s priority is to nurture talent from the foundational level rather than intervening only when athletes have reached advanced stages of their careers. The Minister advised the Honorary Consul to engage the Coordinators for School Sports and Grassroots Sports to ensure that any collaboration is properly structured.
Welcoming the idea of a Ghana–Indonesia football partnership, the Minister cautioned against poorly coordinated programmes that could expose young athletes to risks abroad. He assured that the Ministry would consolidate its proposals and respond with structured recommendations.
Beyond diplomacy and sport, the meeting also ventured into music and national branding. H.E. Rois, who performs under the name Togbe Afrika and has over 26 years of experience in the music industry, formally introduced a patriotic composition titled “GO GO GO BLACKSTARS” in support of Ghana’s national team ahead of the World Cup.
He explained that the song is intended to restore public confidence in the Black Stars following previous setbacks, motivate players on the global stage, unite the country and inspire children and families who view the team as symbols of hope.
The envoy noted that the composition goes beyond football enthusiasm. It incorporates references to Ghana’s tourist attractions and natural resources, positioning the piece as a creative diplomatic tool to promote tourism and attract international investment.
Drawing on his diplomatic role, he said that as Honorary Consul, one of his core responsibilities is to promote Indonesia in Ghana and Ghana in Indonesia, an approach he indicated shaped the structure and messaging of the song. He added that the track is Pan-African in tone and deliberately avoids references to specific players, ministers or political figures to preserve its relevance across generations.
The Minister commended the initiative, describing the song as beautiful, impactful and strategically crafted, particularly for its integration of tourism and resource themes. He assured that it would be forwarded to the technical committee responsible for selecting official songs for the World Cup.
The discussions also highlighted educational cooperation. H.E. Rois informed the Minister about the fully funded Indonesian Government Scholarship, known as the KNB programme, which remains open until March 31, 2026. The scholarship package includes return airfare, visa facilitation, monthly stipends, health insurance, book and research allowances, and accommodation support.
He encouraged the Ministry, athletes, students and their families to explore the opportunity, noting that it covers a wide range of academic disciplines comparable to programmes offered in Ghanaian and international universities. He assured that detailed information would be shared with the Minister’s office for wider dissemination.
In his closing remarks, Mr Adams congratulated H.E. Rois for his initiatives and described the visit as timely and strategic. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s openness to deepening cooperation with Indonesia and reiterated its commitment to structured and sustainable sports partnerships.
