SWAG calls on Sports Minister to boost sports development
The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has called on the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, to foster greater collaboration to strengthen the country's sports industry.
A delegation from the association, led by its President, Kwabena Yeboah, paid a working visit to the minister in Accra last Monday to discuss areas of cooperation and the critical role of the media in sports development.
Other members of the delegation were Vice-President, Evelyn Nsiah Asare; General Secretary, Charles Osei Asibey; Deputy General Secretary, Kenneth Odeng Adade; Treasurer Owuraku Nsiah, and Women’s Commissioner, Mavis Amanor.
Mr Yeboah expressed gratitude to the minister for his open-door policy, which has enabled stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the sports sector.
He specifically commended the minister for his support, which facilitated Ghana's active participation in the recent International Sports Press Federation (AIPS) congress in The Gambia.
"We were able to participate actively in The Gambia and Ghana's delegation garnered positive headlines across African and global platforms. Such international exposure underscores the importance of sports as an economic enabler for Africa, ‘’ Mr Yeboah said.
A major highlight of the discussion was the historic sports fund championed by the minister, for which Mr Yeboah called for greater publicity and support to drive growth, emphasising the critical need for grassroots sports development.
"The lack of basic sports facilities has long hampered progress," he noted. "We must shift attention beyond football to nurture other sporting disciplines."
In his response, the minister expressed appreciation for SWAG's role as a powerful voice in the sports ecosystem.
He emphasised the importance of constructive criticism and productive journalism in shaping the sector's future.
The minister said he was committed to collaborating with SWAG to develop training modules to enhance the capacity of sports journalists, recognising the media's pivotal role in promoting the sports industry.
"We need a unified effort from all stakeholders to develop Ghana's sports sector comprehensively," he stated. He highlighted the sector's current opportunities in the media space and urged more publicity to attract investors and foster local talent.
Reiterating his commitment to developing sports infrastructure, the minister called for a collective effort to harness sports as a tool for national development.
