In a move to strengthen Ghana’s sports industry, the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has officially called on Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation, to foster greater collaboration and support for the sector.
The delegation was led by SWAG President Kwabena Yeboah, a renowned journalist, accompanied by key executives including Vice President Evelyn Nsiah Asare, General Secretary Charles Osei Asibey, Deputy General Secretary Kenneth Odeng Adade, Treasurer Owuraku Nsiah, and Women’s Commissioner Mavis Amanor.
Founded in 1968, SWAG boasts a membership of over 1,000 sports journalists, photojournalists, content creators, bloggers, writers, and sports presenters across Ghana. As an active member of the International Sports Press Federation (AIPS) in Africa and globally, SWAG has played a vital role in promoting Ghanaian sports on the international stage.
During the meeting, President Yeboah expressed gratitude to Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams for his open-door policy that has allowed stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the sports sector. He praised the minister’s support that facilitated Ghana’s active participation at the recent AIPS congress in Gambia, where Ghana’s delegation garnered positive headlines across African and global platforms. Mr. Yeboah emphasized that such international exposure underscores the importance of sports as an economic enabler for Africa.
A highlight of the discussion was the historic sports fund championed by Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams. Yeboah appealed for increased publicity and support to ensure the fund’s growth, stressing the critical need for grassroots sports development. He pointed out that the lack of basic sports facilities has long hampered progress and that attention must shift beyond football to nurture other sporting disciplines.
Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams expressed appreciation for SWAG’s role as a powerful voice in the sports ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of constructive criticism and productive journalism in shaping the sector’s future. The minister committed to collaborating with SWAG to develop training modules aimed at enhancing the capacity of sports journalists, recognizing the media’s pivotal role in promoting the sports industry.
He also called for a unified effort from all stakeholders to develop Ghana’s sports sector comprehensively. Highlighting the sector’s current opportunities in the media space, the minister urged more publicity to attract investors and foster local talent. He reiterated his commitment to developing the sports infrastructure and called for a collective effort to harness sports as a tool for national development.
This engagement marks a promising step forward in Ghana’s quest to elevate its sports industry, with SWAG and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation united in their goal to propel Ghanaian sports onto the global stage.
Source: PR & Communication Unit, MoSR