Ghana’s Minister for Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, has urged the country’s lesser-prominent sporting federations to emulate the success story of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and adopt strategies that will make their bodies more impactful, relevant, and worthy of national support.
During a meeting with sports stakeholders in Accra, Hon. Kofi Adams addressed the ongoing discussion regarding the perceived disparity in government funding between football and other sports.
The GFA, recognized as the most structured and powerful sports organization in the nation, continues to secure substantial government investment with the situation attracting criticisms from leaders and members of other federations who feel overlooked.
However, Hon. Kofi Adams provided a more detailed viewpoint, urging these federations to grasp the factors contributing to football’s dominance and to emulate the GFA’s effective strategies in their own practices.
“The story of the GFA should guide all of us on what we must do with our federations,” Hon. KofiAdams said. He underscored an important truth in Ghana’s sports scene; achievement and recognition often stem from organization, strategy, investment, and community involvement.
He asserted that football didn’t accidentally reach its current status; rather, it thrived due to years of intentional efforts to professionalize the game, engage supporters, secure sponsorships, and achieve success on both national and international stages.
His comments arrive amid rising worries about the future and viability of other sports in Ghana. At present, 46 sporting federations are registered with the National Sports Authority (NSA), covering disciplines like athletics, boxing, table tennis, and volleyball.
However, many of these organizations face challenges such as inadequate funding, low public interest, and poor visibility which has prompted concerns about their overall effectiveness and credibility.
“We need to leave here knowing very well that football didn’t just gain the attention it’s getting by chance – something happened to give it that attention. It didn’t just wake up one morning and start receiving this level of recognition. We need to understand what happened and learn from it to bring similar progress to our federations.”
Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation
While addressing the leaders of the various sporting bodies, he shared a local proverb to drive home his message: “There’s a saying in my village that when you are an orphan, and parents are advising their children, you stand behind the window and listen, so you take a cue because you are an orphan.”
His address has triggered crucial dialogues within the sports community, prompting many federation leaders to express their views on social media and other platforms regarding their organizational tactics.
Some have noted that although football has historically been the most favored sport in Ghana, the GFA has managed to secure corporate partnerships, attract media coverage, and build a robust fan culture more effectively than other sports.
Conversely, others contend that the government’s excessive focus on football has exacerbated the existing divide, rendering it nearly impossible for other sports to advance.
Call for Comprehensive Reforms
However, Hon. Kofi Adams emphasised that support and visibility will always be a by-product of genuine impact. He encouraged federations to review their operational frameworks, nurture talent from the grassroots level, and proactively promote their sports to both the Ghanaian audience and potential sponsors.
“We have to ask ourselves: what are we doing in our federations to make them more appealing, more organized, more engaging to the youth of this country?” Hon. Kofi Adams posed to the audience.
He also added that “we cannot wait for attention; we must attract it. That’s what football did, and that’s why football continues to receive the support it does.” The minister reaffirmed the government’s dedication to promoting sports development across all areas.
However, he emphasized that due to limited national resources, federations must demonstrate their significance through measurable results—such as medal achievements, fan involvement, youth engagement, and governance accountability.
For numerous federations, the path forward may appear challenging, but Hn. Kofi Adams’ message provided a roadmap: replicate the successes of the GFA, innovate within your sport, and cultivate public and institutional trust.
Whether through improved administration, regular competitions, media outreach, or grassroots initiatives, the appeal is for federations to take charge of their own transformation.
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