Parliament has approved the appointment of Buem Member of Parliament, Kofi Adams, as Minister of Sports and Recreation. His nomination by President John Dramani Mahama in January was followed by a vetting process conducted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament last week, during which he outlined his vision for the holistic development of sports in Ghana.
A report on his vetting was presented to Parliament yesterday, 4th February, 2025 and subsequently adopted by the House, paving the way for his swearing-in by President Mahama to officially assume office.
As he prepares to take charge of the Ministry, Mr. Adams has been advised to tread cautiously, particularly in managing the football sector, which has been at the center of various controversies over the years. However, he has assured Ghanaians that while football remains a priority, equal attention will be given to other sporting disciplines.
In a recent interview on Joy FM, Mr. Adams acknowledged the longstanding issue of inadequate funding for sports development. He emphasized the need to move beyond mere discussions about establishing a Sports Fund and instead take concrete steps toward its realization.
To address the financial challenges facing the sector, he has proposed several initiatives, including leveraging revenue from sports betting and allocating a portion of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to support school sports. Additionally, he intends to engage the Ministry of Local Government to secure funding from the District Assemblies Common Fund, ensuring grassroots sports receive the necessary financial backing.
“The new Sports Authority Act creates a School Sports Development Agency. If this agency is to function effectively, it must be funded,” he stated.
With Parliament’s approval secured, all eyes will now be on Kofi Adams as he assumes office to implement his vision and drive the development of sports in Ghana.