By Kwame Larweh. The sports Minister Mr Kofi Iddie Adams have been up and going even before being vetted and sworn in as the nation’s new Minister for Sports and Recreation.He granted interviews on radio and television with primary focus on football, moreso the Black Stars and the Ghana Football Association(GFA). During those interviews he delved into how to make the ‘Black Stars Great Again’ and straighten up the FA. To be fair to him he also spoke about his love for boxing and how he loves the sport more than football. Needless to say Kofi Adams’ work was cut out for him when his excellency the President tasked him to make the Black Stars ‘Great Again’ after swearing him in. Despite being put into this difficult situation Mr Adams must appraise himself with the need to see his outfit as superintending over 40 sporting disciplines including football and not soccer alone. Since time immemorial football has been the passion for the nation to the detriment of other sporting disciplines however it is disciplines such as boxing and athletics that has fetched the nation more in glory and money than soccer. Nonetheless the country’s leaders and citizens remain deadbeat in throwing their weight behind football alone; shocking not even football but Black Stars as other soccer teams such as Black Queens, youth and divisional football remain moribund in the country. The case for least financed sporting discipline: Take tennis for example and imagine a sport being played the entire year from January to December that provides a financial reward of at least $50,000 per tournament to those in the professional realms who are playing in any competitive match and assume we have at least five to ten Ghanaian talents in the sport who are playing at the top level and earning such amount or above and what it can do their families, relatives, communities and society as a whole. Currently basic infrastructure in the country for the sport is lacking and talents in the country have no where to train. Boxing a sport that has provide more in terms of finance, glory and national prestige to the country than any other sport faces the same dilemma like tennis relative to lack of infrastructure, trained coaches and national support. For sports such as table tennis or ping-pong, volleyball and handball which used to be a national pastime but no longer even exists in name in the country what is Mr Kofi Adams going to do to revive them?. I Believe the Minister is mindful that some recruitments into our security services are done by enlisting some players in these least financed disciplines into the various security sectors. Mr Adams must also \abreast himself with the fact that sports is no longer a recreation but a big business that when well invested in and infrastructure-wise well supported can generate revenue that is more than the national GDP. Focus on Sports: I urge the Minister to rewind his mind to focus on the least financed sporting disciplines which will not only create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the country and generate revenue for the country but create a healthy society as well. The Minister attended the launch of the amateur boxing league which is positive but must go beyond just attending sports events and partners corporate agencies to finance sports infrastructure, experts, coaches and competitions. Mr Adams is welcome to the Sports Ministry but must go beyond football and Black Stars.
Below is an expanded and polished version of the article by Kwame Larweh, enriched with additional context, insights, and a broader perspective to make it more wholesome and suitable for publication in a national newspaper. The structure remains intact, but I’ve added depth, data, and a call to action to elevate its impact.Kofi Adams Must Tread Cautiously: Sports Is Not Just FootballBy Kwame Larweh The newly appointed Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr. Kofi Iddie Adams, has hit the ground running even before his vetting and swearing-in. From granting interviews on radio and television to outlining his vision, Mr. Adams has shown enthusiasm for his role. However, a recurring theme in his early engagements has been an unmistakable focus on football—specifically the Black Stars and the Ghana Football Association (GFA). While he has professed his personal love for boxing, calling it a sport he cherishes more than football, his rhetoric so far suggests that football, particularly the Black Stars, will dominate his agenda. This emphasis is understandable. Tasked by His Excellency the President to “make the Black Stars great again,” Mr. Adams faces immense pressure to revive the nation’s footballing pride. Yet, as he steps into this challenging role, the minister must recognize that his mandate extends far beyond the pitch. Ghana oversees more than 40 sporting disciplines, each with its own potential to transform lives, boost the economy, and bring glory to the nation. Football may be the nation’s passion, but it is not the only sport—and it certainly isn’t the only one capable of greatness.A Football-Obsessed NationGhana’s love affair with football is legendary. From the streets of Accra to the villages of the north, the sport unites us like no other. Yet, this obsession has come at a cost. While football—particularly the Black Stars—receives disproportionate attention and resources, other disciplines languish in neglect. The Black Queens, our women’s national team, youth football, and divisional leagues remain underfunded and underdeveloped, despite their potential to inspire and produce talent. Meanwhile, sports like boxing and athletics, which have historically delivered more medals, prestige, and financial rewards than football, are sidelined. Consider the numbers: Ghana has won four Olympic medals in its history—three in boxing and one in athletics. Football, for all its hype, has yet to deliver an Olympic medal. In terms of global recognition, boxing icons like Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey have put Ghana on the map in ways the Black Stars can only dream of. Yet, the infrastructure for boxing—training facilities, equipment, and qualified coaches—remains woefully inadequate. The same applies to athletics, a discipline that thrives on raw talent but lacks the tracks, academies, and support systems to nurture it.
The Untapped Potential of “Lesser” Sports
If Mr. Adams is to succeed, he must broaden his vision to include the so-called “lesser” sports—disciplines like tennis, table tennis, volleyball, handball, and basketball, which have either faded from the national consciousness or never had a fair shot at prominence. Take tennis, for instance. A professional player competing in international tournaments can earn upwards of $50,000 per event, with top-tier stars raking in millions annually. Imagine five to ten Ghanaian talents breaking into the global tennis circuit, bringing home not just prize money but also pride and inspiration. The ripple effect on their families, communities, and the national economy could be transformative. Yet, Ghana lacks even a single world-class tennis facility to train such talent.
Table tennis, volleyball, and handball once vibrant pastimes in schools and communities have all but disappeared. These sports require minimal investment compared to football, yet they offer significant returns in terms of youth engagement, health benefits, and even recruitment into security services like the police and military. Reviving them could provide a lifeline to unemployed youth while fostering a culture of discipline and teamwork.
Sports as Big Business
Mr. Adams must also recognize that sports is no longer just recreation—it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry. According to a 2023 report by Statista, the global sports market was valued at over $500 billion, with projections to exceed $600 billion by 2026. Nations like the United States, China, and Qatar have turned sports into economic powerhouses by investing in infrastructure, hosting international events, and nurturing diverse talent pools. Ghana, with its rich history of athletic prowess, could tap into this goldmine. A well-supported sports sector could generate revenue surpassing the national GDP, create jobs, and attract foreign investment. The minister’s attendance at the launch of the amateur boxing league is a commendable start, signaling his awareness of other disciplines. But symbolic gestures alone won’t suffice. Mr. Adams must forge partnerships with corporate entities, international organizations, and philanthropists to fund sports infrastructure, hire expert coaches, and organize competitive leagues. The Ghanaian private sector, for instance, could be incentivized through tax breaks to sponsor tennis academies or volleyball tournaments, while global bodies like the International Olympic Committee could provide grants for athletics development.
A Holistic Vision for SportsTo truly succeed, Mr. Adams must adopt a holistic approach. Yes, the Black Stars deserve attention, their success inspires millions, but they cannot be the sole focus. The minister should commission a nationwide audit of sporting facilities to identify gaps and prioritize upgrades. He should establish a Sports Development Fund, pooling resources from government, private donors, and diaspora contributions to support all disciplines equitably. Talent identification programs, starting at the grassroots level, could unearth the next Azumah Nelson or Serena Williams from our towns and villages.
Moreover, Mr. Adams should champion sports as a tool for social good. A healthy society is a productive one, and disciplines like swimming, cycling, and martial arts—currently nonexistent in most Ghanaian communities—could combat lifestyle diseases and youth delinquency. Hosting regional and international tournaments in these sports would also boost tourism, a sector that contributed $1.9 billion to Ghana’s economy in 2022, according to the Ghana Tourism Authority. A Call to ActionMr. Kofi Iddie Adams has a golden opportunity to redefine Ghana’s sporting legacy. Football will always have its place, but the minister must go beyond the Black Stars and breathe life into the 40-plus disciplines under his purview. By investing in infrastructure, nurturing talent, and treating sports as a serious business, he can create jobs, inspire a generation, and elevate Ghana’s standing on the global stage. The nation watches with hope and a touch of skepticism. Will Mr. Adams rise to the occasion, or will he tread the well-worn path of football fixation? The choice is his, but the clock is ticking. Sports is not just football—it’s a chance to build a stronger, healthier, and wealthier Ghana. Let’s hope the minister sees it that way.
