‘Trust must be built through transparency’ — Kofi Adams on fixing Ghana sports

The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has set out a reform agenda anchored on transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement, as he seeks to restore public confidence in Ghana’s sports sector.

In an interview with GraphicOnline at his office last Thursday, the Minister said rebuilding trust in the sector would depend largely on openness, particularly in financial management.

“I came with that spirit, and luckily for me, I had a president who had the same mindset,” Mr Adams revealed, recalling his marching orders from the presidency, look, if you want to build trust, you must be transparent. Make sure that everything you do is as transparent as possible, and one of the key areas is financial transparency,” he told the Graphic Sports in an interview.

He explained that providing clarity on expenditure, especially relating to national teams, would help reduce public scepticism.

“Once you do that and Ghanaians have an understanding of why you are spending this or that, they may not question the quantum anymore, they will have the understanding, and they will back it with their own contribution,” he told this paper.

Approach to entrenched interests

Addressing longstanding claims of entrenched influence within the sector, Mr Adams acknowledged the presence of powerful actors often described as a “mafia”, but indicated that his approach had been measured and strategic.

“Well, as for what we call mafia, you surely have it in every field, no doubt about that, people who have made themselves masters of the game and they are always around and think that it must always be them.”

Rather than direct confrontation, he said he adopted a listening and engagement strategy upon assuming office.

“I came a little bit prepared. I did a lot of listening, a lot of engagement… I was quiet and doing this and doing that, I was studying all along. Now it is implementation,” he said.

He noted that while cooperation may not be unanimous, it has been sufficient to keep the sector functioning.

“Whether they are happy and happily cooperating or unhappily cooperating, the most important thing is that there is cooperation, the job is being done.”

World Cup qualification and reforms

Mr Adams pointed to the Black Stars’ qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a major milestone, particularly after the team failed to qualify for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

“There were a lot of people who gave up on Black Stars,” he admitted. “But through a certain strategic pull-up, we have been able to play six matches, won five and drew one, and that made it possible for us to qualify.”

He credited the success to collective effort, including support from the Presidency and fans who filled the Accra Sports Stadium “beyond capacity”.

Beyond football results

Mr Adams stressed that his vision for sports extends beyond match results, highlighting its broader role in promoting discipline, tolerance and gradual development.

He cited reforms to the Black Stars’ management committee as an example, noting that incentives had been restructured to prioritise qualification targets over match-by-match bonuses.

“We started first by letting them know that we’re not going to pay them winning bonuses as it used to be we want them to manage the team to make sure that we qualify , and when we have qualified, we have a reward to give them they accepted this and we’ve worked with that,” he stated.

Focus on preparation and selection

Looking ahead, the Minister underscored the importance of thorough preparation for the World Cup, including planned friendlies against Germany and Austria to simulate group-stage opposition.

“I’ve told the coaches that these two friendlies, we are going with the mindset of winning, not just going to try players,” he affirmed.

On the possible inclusion of veteran forward Andre Ayew, Mr Adams deferred to the technical team while expressing openness.

“Fortunately, I’m the minister. Unfortunately, I’m not the coach. The coach has a final say on this; If they include him, why not? I won’t be surprised.” he stated

Reflecting on the demands of his office, he emphasised diligence and personal responsibility in decision-making.

“If I can do something and you give me, I’ll reject it, but if I accept it, I’ll do it with all my time,” he said.

For the Minister, the goal remains to reposition Ghana’s sports sector on a foundation of transparency, accountability and long-term development.