Kofi Adams champions borderless Africa, athlete protection and sustainable sports financing at Russia forum

The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, has called for easier cross-border movement for athletes, fair anti-doping procedures and dependable sports financing, while highlighting Ghana’s reforms to strengthen grassroots development and expand economic opportunities through sport.

Speaking on the “Russia–Africa: Together Towards Sporting Victories” panel at the 14th International Sports Forum “Russia: Country of Sports” in Krasnoyarsk, Mr Adams connected these priorities with the need for partnerships that build lasting institutions and productive capacity within African economies.

The forum, held from 21 to 23 October 2026, brought together government representatives, sporting organisations, investors and experts to discuss the development of professional and mass sport.

The Russia–Africa session was moderated by three-time Olympic champion Maria Kiseleva, with ministers and senior sporting representatives from Russia and several African countries participating.

Mr Adams placed athlete mobility at the centre of the conversation, linking the vision of a borderless Africa with practical access to training, competitions and professional exchanges. He highlighted travel facilitation as an essential part of cooperation, recognising that restrictions on movement can limit exposure and interrupt sporting development.

On anti-doping, the Minister advocated education, prevention and fair procedures that protect clean competition while respecting athletes’ rights and careers. He cautioned against excessively punitive approaches that unnecessarily cut short careers, stressing the importance of helping athletes understand and fulfil their responsibilities.

He highlighted the establishment of the Ghana Anti-Doping Agency as part of efforts to strengthen sporting integrity and athlete protection. The approach outlined in his speaking notes places clean sport education within schools, community clubs and academies, with coaches, parents and medical personnel involved in guiding young athletes.

Mr Adams also presented the Ghana Sports Fund as a foundation for addressing longstanding financing uncertainty. Established under Act 1159 of 2025, the Fund provides a statutory framework for mobilising resources for athlete preparation, welfare, infrastructure, school and grassroots programmes, and recreation.

Its development purpose extends across the years before athletes achieve national recognition, when consistent coaching, competition and medical support are essential to their progress.

The Minister further highlighted the restructuring of school and grassroots sport through the Schools and Grassroots Sports Secretariat, providing coordination between early participation, talent identification and higher levels of development.

The objective is to ensure that promising athletes receive continued support as they move through schools, communities and sporting institutions. His prepared remarks also emphasised athlete tracking to preserve development histories, identify gaps and improve access for girls, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.

These reforms form part of a wider ambition to develop the economic activity surrounding sport. The Minister’s notes identified opportunities in apparel, training equipment, broadcasting, facility maintenance, digital platforms and professional services, through which sporting demand can support African businesses and employment.

Cooperation with Russia offers scope for technical training, institutional exchanges and joint ventures that strengthen this capacity within African countries.

Corporate participation also features in the financing approach. Under Ghana’s tax framework, qualifying contributions to sports development and promotion may be deducted from income before tax is calculated, subject to the required approvals and documentation.

Mr Adams’ participation brought Ghana’s reform agenda into a continental discussion about the foundations of sustained sporting success: accessible opportunities, reliable financing, athlete protection and institutions capable of supporting development beyond individual competitions.