Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, has called for sweeping reforms to strengthen sports development across Africa, focusing on mobility, investment systems and grassroots structures as key drivers of long-term progress.
He made the appeal during the Basketball Africa League Investor Summit in Kigali, Rwanda where policymakers, investors and global sports executives gathered to explore how the continent can better harness sports as an economic and social development tool.
Hon. Adams argued that Africa’s sporting challenge is not a lack of talent, but “weak systems” that limit cooperation between countries and restrict the free flow of athletes, expertise and investment.
The summit featured key stakeholders including Rwanda’s Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa, Gayton McKenzie, Commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver and Andreas Zagklis, with discussions centered on building a more integrated and commercially viable African sports ecosystem.
Regional Mobility and Talent Development
The minister stressed that improving cross-border mobility would significantly strengthen African sports by allowing athletes to compete more freely, encouraging stronger regional leagues and increasing the continent’s attractiveness to global investors.
He explained that easier movement would also “deepen collaboration between sports institutions,” making it possible to share “coaching expertise,” organise more competitive tournaments and develop stronger talent pipelines across countries.
Hon. Adams pointed to Ghana’s domestic sports development efforts under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, particularly initiatives aimed at strengthening grassroots and school sports systems to identify and nurture young athletes early.
“If we want to produce elite athletes, we must build a strong foundation. Ghana has established structures like the Grassroots Sports Secretariat and the School Sports Organization to nurture young talent from an early age.”
Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation
He further emphasised that sustainable sports development cannot rely solely on government funding, calling instead for stronger Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models that provide clarity and confidence for investors entering the sector. “A clear and well-defined PPP structure is essential so investors know the proper channels to follow,” he noted, highlighting the importance of structured investment frameworks for long-term growth.
Beyond funding and mobility, the Honourable minister urged African nations to rethink their role in global sports, arguing that the continent must move beyond exporting talent and instead build systems that retain value and generate opportunities locally. “Africa must be recognized as a production line for sports, not just a market for athletes,” he advised. “We need to create opportunities here for our athletes to develop and excel.”
The summit was attended by Rwanda President Paul Kagame, alongside ministers, NBA officials and former athletes, all contributing to discussions on how sports can become a stronger pillar of Africa’s economic transformation.
Kofi Adams’ message reinforced a growing continental consensus that Africa’s sporting future will depend on stronger systems, deeper collaboration and policies that allow talent to thrive within the continent rather than being exported prematurely.
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