By: Belinda Nketia
Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on Jan. 22 2026 paid a working visit to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, where she received briefings on government’s 2025 sports interventions and the sector’s policy priorities for 2026.
The Vice-President’s visit formed part of her engagements with first-time ministers aimed at strengthening coordination across government. She was received by Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams, Chief Director Wilhelmina Asamoah, heads of agencies and senior staff. Ghana Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku was part of the delegation too.
During the briefing, Minister Kofi Iddie Adams
outlined reforms under President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, including nationwide matchday safety audits following the February 2025 suspension of the Ghana Premier League after the death of a supporter at Nsoatreman. He said the Ministry worked with the GFA and Ghana Police Service to strengthen security protocols and deploy a specialised Sports Police Unit at major venues.
The Minister also announced major boxing reforms, including the establishment of a Boxing Normalisation Committee in September 2025 and the introduction of Ghana’s first national combat sports medical and safety protocol, covering digital medical records, mandatory screenings, ringside medical coverage and athlete insurance.
Government also cleared more than $904,000 in salary arrears owed to former and current Black Stars coaches and technical staff in May 2025, a move Minister Kofi Iddie Adams
said restored credibility and improved contractual discipline.
In July 2025, the Ministry facilitated a national broadcast partnership between the GFA and Adesa Productions, provided GH₵1 million in financial support to each Premier League club, improved prize packages including GH₵2 million for league champions, and delivered equipment assistance to clubs.
Minister Kofi Iddie Adams and Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang
Minister Kofi Iddie Adams further disclosed fiscal reforms that reduced Black Stars international assignment costs from about $2 million to $1.3 million per two-match window, generating efficiency savings of more than 35 percent through performance-based spending.
A major legislative milestone was the passage of the National Sports Fund Act (Act 1159). Cabinet approved the framework in October 2025, Parliament passed the bill on Dec. 18, and leadership has since been appointed to operationalise sustainable funding for sports infrastructure, grassroots development, elite athlete preparation and welfare.
The National Sports Authority has also introduced a stadium maintenance manual, improved booking systems and installed pitch protection panels at the Accra Sports Stadium to reduce wear and tear.
Looking ahead, the Ministry is preparing Ghana to host and participate in major competitions including the FIFA World Cup, WAFCON, Youth Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, African Senior Athletics Championships and the African Armwrestling Championships.
Infrastructure plans include the construction of eight new stadia with three expected to begin in 2026, continued renovations of existing facilities, public-private partnership management of Borteyman and a national framework for astro turf development and Youth Resource Centres.
Concerns raised by the Minister included the timely release of funds, tax exemptions on sports equipment, VAT harmonisation and final policy decisions on Youth Resource Centres to strengthen governance and align Ghana’s sports system with international standards.
As part of the visit, Minister Kofi Iddie Adams presented a national team jersey to Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang. The Vice-President pledged continued support for the sector and assured stakeholders of improved logistics flow to enhance efficiency.
