Kofi Adams pushes for borderless Africa to unlock sports industry growth
Ghana’s sports minister has called for freer movement across African countries, arguing that regional integration is critical to unlocking the continent’s sports potential and economic opportunities.
The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddi Adams, has urged African leaders to remove barriers to movement across the continent as part of a broader strategy to accelerate sports development and investment.
Speaking at the Basketball Africa League Investor Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, the minister stressed that Africa must create an enabling environment that supports both talent mobility and industry growth.
“Africa should be able to travel freely among its nations,” he stated, noting that easier cross-border movement would significantly boost sports development and economic progress.
The high-level summit brought together key stakeholders from across Africa’s sports, business, and infrastructure sectors to explore how sports can drive economic transformation and sustainable development.
The Hon. Adams joined a panel that included Rwanda’s minister of sports, Nelly Mukazayire; South Africa’s minister of sports, arts and culture, Gayton McKenzie; Adam Silver, commissioner of the National Basketball Association; and Andreas Zagklis.
Discussions at the summit focused on expanding sports infrastructure, attracting investment, and building sustainable sports ecosystems across the continent.
Highlighting Ghana’s efforts under John Dramani Mahama, Hon. Adams pointed to initiatives aimed at strengthening grassroots sports development.
“If we want to produce elite athletes, we must build a strong foundation,” he said, citing structures such as the Grassroots Sports Secretariat and the School Sports Organisation as key platforms for nurturing young talent.
He further emphasised that government-led initiatives must be complemented by private sector participation, calling for stronger Public-Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks to attract investment into sports infrastructure and development.
“A clear and well-defined PPP structure is essential so investors know the proper channels to follow,” he explained.
Hon. Adams also challenged prevailing perceptions of Africa’s role in global sports, urging stakeholders to reposition the continent as a hub for talent development rather than merely a source of athletes.
“Africa must be recognised as a production line for sports, not just a market for athletes. We need to create opportunities here for our athletes to develop and excel,” he said.
The summit was attended by Paul Kagame, alongside ministers, NBA executives, and current and former basketball stars, all of whom shared a common vision of leveraging sports as a catalyst for economic and social progress.
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