Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has called for greater freedom of movement across African countries as part of efforts to accelerate sports development and unlock economic opportunities on the continent.
Speaking at the Basketball Africa League Investor Summit in Kigali on May 22, 2026, the minister said Africa must remove barriers that limit mobility and regional collaboration if the continent hopes to build a competitive and sustainable sports industry.
The summit brought together major stakeholders from Africa’s sports, business and infrastructure sectors to discuss how sports can drive economic growth and social transformation across the continent.
“Africa should be able to travel freely among its nations,” Mr. Adams said during a high-level panel discussion, stressing that easier movement across borders would support athlete development, sports investment and wider economic integration.
Investors Urged to Support Sports Infrastructure
The discussion featured prominent figures including Rwanda’s Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire, South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, Adam Silver and Andreas Zagklis.
Participants examined strategies for financing sports infrastructure and strengthening Africa’s sports ecosystem through long-term investment and policy coordination.
Mr. Adams highlighted Ghana’s current sports reforms under President John Dramani Mahama, noting that the country is prioritising grassroots development through structures such as the Grassroots Sports Secretariat and the School Sports Organization.
“If we want to produce elite athletes, we must build a strong foundation,” he said, emphasizing the importance of nurturing young talent from an early stage.
Call for Stronger Public-Private Partnerships
The Sports Minister also called for stronger public-private partnership frameworks to attract private investment into Africa’s sports sector.
“A clear and well-defined PPP structure is essential so investors know the proper channels to follow,” he explained.
According to him, governments alone cannot fully finance the growth of sports infrastructure and athlete development programmes across the continent.
Mr. Adams further argued that Africa should position itself not merely as a supplier of talent to foreign leagues, but as a global centre for sports production, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Africa must be recognized as a production line for sports, not just a market for athletes,” he said.
The event was attended by Paul Kagame, government officials, NBA executives, investors and current and former basketball stars, all of whom backed efforts to use sports as a catalyst for economic and social progress across Africa.
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