Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams has urged African governments to elevate sports as a strategic economic sector that can drive growth, create jobs, and promote regional integration.
Delivering a keynote at the opening of the AIPS Africa Conference in Banjul, he stressed the importance of deliberate policies and targeted investments to unlock the continent’s sports potential.
Adams praised The Gambia for its hospitality and strong political support for sports development, youth empowerment, and media engagement, highlighting that such commitment reflects an increasing recognition across Africa of sport as a development tool.
“Sport has the power to unite communities, inspire young people, and strengthen national identity. Yet, it remains undervalued as a strategic economic sector,” he said.
He pointed out that while the global sports industry was valued at over $512 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $624 billion by 2027, Africa’s share remains limited due to underinvestment in infrastructure, media rights, sponsorship, and digital monetization.
“Africa’s sports economy is estimated at only $12–15 billion—less than 0.5% of the continent’s GDP—despite Africa hosting nearly 17% of the world’s population,” Adams observed.
He lamented that African nations continue to export talented athletes at low costs while spending heavily on foreign sports content, emphasizing the continent’s potential to generate and retain value domestically.
Adams highlighted structural barriers to growth, including inadequate infrastructure, weak commercialization frameworks, governance challenges, and restrictions on the movement of athletes and fans across the continent.
“Without effective organization and regional collaboration, Africa’s sports potential cannot be fully realized,” he cautioned.
He noted positive examples in Morocco, Rwanda, and Tanzania, where strategic investments and clear policies have helped position sports as both an economic and diplomatic asset.
Turning to Ghana, Adams outlined reforms aimed at leveraging sports as a catalyst for national development. These include broadcasting the Ghana Premier League on free-to-air television, increasing prize money, and creating the Ghana Sports Fund to support infrastructure, grassroots programs, and athlete welfare.
He added that these reforms have begun yielding results, with Ghana hosting 12 international sporting events in 2025, strengthening its reputation as a reliable destination for multi-sport events ahead of upcoming continental championships.
The Minister also called on African sports journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical reporting, stressing that credible journalism is essential to build trust, transparency, and attract investment in the sector.
“Sport is no longer just entertainment; it is about employment, content creation, tourism, identity, and influence,” he said.
“The question is whether Africa is ready to remove obstacles, implement strong frameworks, and treat sport as a production and export industry. The opportunity is ours, and so is the responsibility.”
The AIPS Africa Conference brings together sports administrators, policymakers, and media professionals to discuss strategies for maximizing sports’ economic potential and supporting long-term development across Africa.