News Guide Africa

Tag: Kofi Adams Sports Minister

  • Black Stars Shine Bright: Ghana secures fifth World Cup spot after thrilling win over Comoros

    Black Stars Shine Bright: Ghana secures fifth World Cup spot after thrilling win over Comoros

    The Black Stars of Ghana have done it again! After a thrilling 1-0 victory over Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, Ghana secured its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    This marks the country’s fifth appearance at the global showpiece, following previous qualifications in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022.

    The match was intense, with the Black Stars dominating possession and creating scoring opportunities.

    It was Mohammed Kudus who broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, tapping in a square pass from Thomas Partey to send the stadium into rapturous celebration.

    Ghana’s qualification campaign has been impressive, with the team finishing top of Group I with 25 points. They were led by Coach Otto Addo, who has instilled a winning mentality and unity in the team. The Black Stars’ consistency and resilience have paid off, and they will now look forward to making a deep run in the World Cup.

    The victory has sparked jubilant celebrations across the country, with fans taking to the streets to celebrate.

    Sports Minister Kofi Adams said Ghana’s qualification was effectively sealed after their 5-0 win over the Central African Republic, and Sunday’s match was just a formality.

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and will feature 48 teams, making it the largest World Cup in history. Ghana’s participation in the tournament is a testament to the country’s footballing prowess and its ability to compete on the global stage.

     

     

  • Mahama’s 7-stadium plan shows true commitment to sports – Sports Minister

    Mahama’s 7-stadium plan shows true commitment to sports – Sports Minister

    Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has said that the government’s decision to build seven new stadia across the country in 2026 is clear proof of the seriousness President John Dramani Mahama attaches to sports development in Ghana.

    Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, September 20, the Minister confirmed that the stadium projects will be fully reflected in the upcoming national budget.

    “We are initiating new sports stadia from next year, and that will be properly captured in the budget. It shows how seriously the president attaches to sports generally, and we are not just going to build pitches for soccer, but we will have a stadium that will have other facilities that will promote other sports,” Kofi Adams said.

    The President had earlier announced the government’s plan to build seven fit-for-purpose stadia, one in each of the new regions, during a courtesy call by Asante Kotoko and Bibiani Gold Stars football clubs at the Jubilee House on Saturday.

    “The Finance Minister is going to present the budget in November, and I was telling the Sports Minister and the Director-General of the National Sports Authority that next year we are going to build about seven brand new stadia,” President Mahama stated.

    “We want that every new region should have a stadium that is fit for purpose so that we can improve the playing conditions and make our football more competitive.”

    Minister Kofi Adams explained that the stadia will not only support football but also include infrastructure for other sporting disciplines, in line with Ghana’s goal of becoming a multi-sporting nation.

  • Sports Ministry justifies removal of $5,000 bus fueling budget for Black Stars

    Sports Ministry justifies removal of $5,000 bus fueling budget for Black Stars

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Tanko Bagbara, has provided further clarification on why a proposed $5,000 allocation for fueling the Black Stars’ team bus was scrapped from the budget for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali.

    During a press briefing on Tuesday, the sector minister announced that the line item had been taken out of the original budget presented by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

    Explaining the decision in an interview with Connect 97.1FM, Mr. Bagbara said the ministry and the GFA had managed the issue efficiently by reassigning it under incidentals, but not at the same cost initially requested.

    “It was a budget line. The minister and FA managed to handle it well. It was added to the incidentals so it will be catered for but certainly not the tune of what they (the GFA) were requesting. In all of this, the ministry is embarking on a cost-cutting journey. The nation has other competing needs. That budget line was related to the Ghana vs Mali game,” he explained.

    The Black Stars’ initial budget for the two qualifiers was pegged at $1.24 million but has since been reviewed downward to $860,000 as part of government’s efforts to reduce expenditure.

    The ministry insists the revisions will not affect the team’s preparations or performance but will ensure judicious use of public funds at a time when national priorities extend beyond football.

  • Sports Minister scraps winning bonuses for Black Stars management committee

    Sports Minister scraps winning bonuses for Black Stars management committee

    The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has announced the cancellation of winning bonuses for members of the Black Stars Management Committee.

    Players of the national team will continue to receive $5,000 each as a winning bonus in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but the $10,000 package previously allocated to management members has been scrapped.

    Addressing a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, September 2, Mr. Adams explained that although the budget for each game was initially set at $1 million, the Ministry has approved $1.3 million to cover two matches.

    He stressed that management members would now be entitled only to their per diems and not performance-related bonuses.

    “If for every win we are to pay a winning bonus, what happens if we do not win the number of games to qualify us for the tournament?” Mr. Adams questioned. “Under the previous arrangement, management team members received winning bonuses, but in the end, the team did not even qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. The players earned nothing, yet managers walked away with bonuses. The president has made it clear: supervise and receive your per diem, but no winning bonus.”

     

  • Kofi Adams advocates for climate-resilient sports infrastructure at global forum in Cape Town

    Kofi Iddi Adams, Sports Minister

     

    Kofi Iddi Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation, is advocating for climate leadership in the world of sport after he  unveiled a series of green initiatives at the Global Sports and Sustainability Forum 2025 held in Cape Town.

     

    Speaking at the event which brought together international audience of policymakers, sports executives, and climate advocates, the Minister urged countries to reimagine sports infrastructure as a catalyst for environmental resilience and community development.

     

    The SPORTS20 event organised under the theme ‘Another World Is Possible’, the event featured voices from around the world exploring how sport can confront global crises like climate change and biodiversity loss.

     

    “Flooded pitches, rising temperatures, and unpredictable weather are disrupting competitions and training schedules,” Ghana’s Sport minister said in his opening address. 

     

    “At the same time, the carbon footprint of mega sporting events rivals the electricity consumption of millions of households. We must act boldly.”

     

    Kofi Adams hinted that the John Mahama-led administration will soon launch a new National Recreation Agency, tasked with leading a climate-conscious wellness movement.

     

    Among its flagship programs will be National Recreation Day and National Aerobics Day, both designed to engage citizens in tree planting, clean-up campaigns, and climate-friendly sporting events.

     

    The Minister also spoke passionately about addressing the environmental devastation caused by illegal small-scale mining, or galamsey.

     

    In response, Ghana will develop community sports academies and green parks on degraded lands in collaboration with mining companies, offering young people alternative livelihoods through sport.

     

    The Minister praised SUCCA Africa, GHALCA, and SPORTS20 for their role in advancing the Green Futball Initiative, which has brought climate issues into the heart of Ghana’s sports culture — from boardrooms to locker rooms.

     

    “Through SUCCA Africa’s ESG frameworks, Ghana is positioning itself as a continental case study in sustainable football development,” he stated.

     

    The forum also featured a compelling presentation by Prince Osisiadan, CEO of SUCCA Africa, who linked climate and biodiversity loss to the sustainability of sport itself.

     

    He warned that without urgent action, sports would increasingly suffer from extreme weather cancellations to lost natural venues and declining public health.

     

    GHALCA President John Ansah echoed these sentiments, stating, “The time for talk has passed; we must act decisively. African football has a unique opportunity to lead by example in sustainability. Our commitment to green practices will not only protect our environment but also inspire future generations to embrace eco-friendly sportsmanship.”

     

    Stefan Wagner of Sports20, Germany opined that the forum marks a turning point not just in conversation, but in collective commitment to climate action through sport.