- Kofi Adams urges Africa to treat sports as a key economic sector
- Africa’s sports economy is $12–15B, under 0.5% of GDP despite 17% of the global population
- Challenges include poor infrastructure, weak commercialization, and governance gaps
Kofi Adams, Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, has urged African governments to urgently reposition sports as a strategic economic sector capable of driving growth, creating jobs, and fostering regional integration.
He made the appeal in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the AIPS Africa Conference in Banjul, emphasizing the need for deliberate policies and investments to unlock the continent’s immense sports potential.
Minister Adams praised The Gambia for its hospitality and strong political commitment to sports development, youth empowerment, and media engagement, noting that such support reflects a growing continental recognition of sports as a driver of development.
“Across Africa, we recognize sport’s power to unite communities, inspire youth, and strengthen national identity. Yet, despite this shared understanding, sport remains undervalued as a strategic economic sector,” he said.
The Sports Minister highlighted that while the global sports industry was valued at over $512 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $624 billion by 2027, Africa continues to lag due to limited investment in infrastructure, media rights, sponsorship, and digital monetization.
“Africa’s sports economy is estimated at just $12–15 billion, less than 0.5 percent of our continent’s GDP, despite representing nearly 17 percent of the world’s population,” he noted.
He further lamented that African countries often export talented athletes cheaply while spending heavily on foreign sports content, stressing that the continent has the capacity to create and retain value locally.
Minister Adams identified key structural challenges constraining growth, including inadequate infrastructure, weak commercialization frameworks, governance deficits, and restrictions on intra-African mobility for athletes and fans.
“Without proper organization and regional cooperation, our potential remains untapped,” he cautioned.
Despite these challenges, he highlighted positive examples from Morocco, Rwanda, and Tanzania, where targeted investments and clear policies are helping position sport as both an economic and diplomatic asset.
Turning to Ghana, Minister Adams outlined reforms aimed at making sport a catalyst for national development. These include returning the Ghana Premier League to free-to-air television, increasing prize money, and establishing the Ghana Sports Fund to provide sustainable financing for infrastructure development, grassroots programs, and athlete welfare.
He noted that these reforms have already yielded results, with Ghana hosting 12 international sporting events in 2025, strengthening its reputation as a reliable multi-sport destination ahead of upcoming continental championships.
The Minister also urged African sports journalists to uphold professionalism and responsible reporting, emphasizing that credible journalism is critical for building trust, transparency, and investor confidence in the sports sector.
“Sport is no longer just about entertainment; it’s about jobs, content, tourism, identity, and power,” he said.
“The question is whether Africa is ready to remove barriers, enforce frameworks, and treat sport as a production and export industry. The opportunity is ours; the responsibility is ours.”
The AIPS Africa Conference brings together sports administrators, policymakers, and media practitioners to explore strategies for harnessing the full economic potential of sport to support long-term development across the continent.
