Kofi Adams vows to revolutionise Ghanaian sports with bold leadership

Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister designate, Kofi Iddie Adams, has vowed to spearhead a transformative era in the country’s sports sector, promising dynamic leadership to revive Ghanaian sports and restore its past glory.

With a keen focus on grassroots development, Mr Adams outlined an ambitious strategy to reinvigorate interest in inter-college competitions and elevate the Ghana Premier League to new heights.

His overarching vision is to invest significantly in various sporting disciplines and "work hard to restore Ghana to its glory days."

Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament last Thursday, the MP for Buem Constituency in the Oti Region reaffirmed his extensive understanding of sports.

He assured Ghanaians, President John Dramani Mahama and himself that he would not disappoint, pledging to implement concrete measures that will set Ghanaian sports on a path to sustainable success.

Player welfare, financial stability

At the core of Mr Adams’ plan is the welfare of local players.

He intends to improve player remuneration to reduce the mass exodus of talent abroad and collaborate with active athletes to establish a pension scheme for retired players, ensuring financial security for sportsmen and women beyond their playing days.

Acknowledging the significant financial constraints on the sector, with Ghanaian sports reportedly burdened by a $450 million debt, the minister designate promised to prioritise securing sustainable funding.

“I will focus my efforts on resource mobilisation, ensuring that the available funds are equitably distributed so that no one is left behind,” he asserted.

A key highlight of Mr Adams’ vision is the transformation of the Winneba Sports College into a full-fledged university.

This initiative aims to bolster the capacity of Ghanaian technical personnel, equipping them with the confidence and expertise to handle major sporting assignments both locally and internationally.

In addition, Mr Adams aims to introduce scholarship programmes for young athletes who wish to balance their academic and sporting aspirations, paving the way for a new generation of well-rounded sports professionals.

Infrastructure overhaul

To ensure a lasting impact, Mr Adams has pledged to instil a strong maintenance culture within Ghanaian sports, preventing the deterioration of key sporting facilities.

“Our infrastructure must be preserved and improved so that future generations can benefit,” he stated emphatically.

With a bold leadership approach and a clear vision for transformation, Mr Adams appeared determined to turn the tide for Ghanaian sports.

His ability to execute these plans effectively will be crucial in setting the nation’s sporting landscape on a path to renewed success.

1. Bold commitment to deliver

Kofi Adams dismissed concerns about his lack of recognition in sports circles, asserting his readiness to take on the role.

He assured Ghanaians of his commitment to success, stating “I will not disappoint Ghanaians and I will not disappoint President John Mahama.

I will deliver and I won't also disappoint myself.”

His appointment comes at a challenging time for Ghanaian sports, with the national football team, the Black Stars, struggling on the international stage after consecutive group-stage exits at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and missing qualification for the 2025 edition.
 

2. Restructuring National Sports Authority

Adams pledged to redefine the role of the National Sports Authority (NSA) to ensure its effective operation as an intermediary between the ministry and various sports federations.

Highlighting its current limitations, he stated, “The challenge we have is the NSA which is the bridge.

Sometimes, it’s not allowed to interface and deal with the GFA (Ghana Football Association), especially when it comes to Black Stars funding.

We intend to make sure to re-strategise so that the NSA plays the role it is supposed to play.”
 

3. Stipends for players

The minister designate revealed that discussions are underway to introduce financial support for players in the Ghana Premier League, addressing the issue of low wages that drive talents abroad.

He stated, “We talked about giving them allowances so we can retain a number of our players. Some of them leave the shores of this country to play in war-torn countries just because their earnings are so low.

The whole idea is to retain players by giving them stipends.

We think it will go a long way to improving the league.”
 

4. ‘Reverse Pyramid’ approach to athlete development

Kofi Adams proposed a “reverse pyramid” strategy to enhance grassroots sports development, advocating a strong foundation at the school level.

“We will improve grassroots sports and we are going to go back to the inter-college days because you need to catch them and train them from that point.

You don’t let them mature to a certain stage before you start investing in them.”