Hon. Kofi Adams Calls For Free Movement for Africa’s Sports Growth at BALI Summit in Kigali
Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has called on African leaders to remove travel barriers across the continent to accelerate sports development and unlock greater economic opportunities.
Speaking at the Basketball Africa League Investor Summit in Kigali, the minister argued that easier movement between African countries would create stronger sporting ecosystems, improve talent development and encourage investment in the industry.
The summit brought together key figures in sports governance, business and infrastructure to discuss how sports can contribute to sustainable economic growth across Africa. Adams joined a high-profile panel that included Nelly Mukazayire, Gayton McKenzie, Adam Silver and Andreas Zagklis.
During the discussion, the Ghanaian minister stressed that sports development on the continent cannot thrive without stronger regional cooperation. Referencing initiatives under the administration of John Dramani Mahama, Adams insisted that mobility across African nations must become easier for athletes, officials and investors.
Africa should be able to travel freely among its nations,” Adams said during the summit.
When movement becomes easier, sports development and economic progress will naturally grow together.”
The minister explained that free movement would not only benefit athletes competing internationally but would also make it easier for clubs, federations and investors to collaborate across borders.
He argued that African countries must view sports as a strategic economic sector capable of creating jobs and attracting global investment.
Adams also placed strong emphasis on youth development, stating that long-term sporting success depends on establishing solid structures at the grassroots level. According to him, Ghana has already begun strengthening that foundation through institutions designed to identify and nurture talent from an early age.
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.”
The minister warned that relying solely on government funding would slow the growth of sports on the continent. He therefore urged African nations to create more attractive environments for private investors by introducing transparent and efficient Public-Private Partnership frameworks.
“A clear and well-defined PPP structure is essential so investors know the proper channels to follow,” Adams explained, adding that stronger collaboration between governments and businesses would help improve infrastructure, athlete development and sports management systems.
Adams further challenged African leaders to rethink the continent’s role in global sports. While Africa continues to produce world-class athletes across several disciplines, he argued that many countries still fail to fully benefit from the economic value generated by their talent.
Africa must be recognized as a production line for sports, not just a market for athletes,” he said. “We need to create opportunities here for our athletes to develop and excel.”