Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has called for stronger unity among African nations in advancing the continent’s sporting ambitions, pledging Ghana’s full support for any country selected to host the world athletics championships.
Speaking in Accra on Sunday at the opening of the African athletics championships council meeting held at the African regent Hotel, Mr. Adams stressed the importance of collective effort in developing sports infrastructure and hosting major global events.
The council meeting comes ahead of the African athletics championships, which begins today at the Legon sports stadium, drawing participating nations to the capital.
Mr. Adams noted that while athletes compete under their respective national flags, African countries must present a united front when it comes to broader developmental goals within the sport.
We may compete individually, but as a federation, we must speak with one voice, he urged.
He added that recent successes across the continent demonstrate Africa’s growing capacity to host global competitions pointing to Kenya’s hosting of the U-20 Championships, Uganda’s organization of a cross-country event, and Botswana’s successful staging of the World Relays as clear indicators that Africa is ready for bigger responsibilities.
According to the minister, Ghana is prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any African nation granted the opportunity to host the World Athletics Championships.
We will not leave that country alone. We will join hands to deliver an event that will go down in history, he assured, expressing confidence that other African nations would offer similar support.
Beyond hosting ambitions, Mr. Adams emphasized the need for shared development across the continent, particularly in sports infrastructure.
Improvement in Kenya is improvement in Botswana, and that is also improvement in Ghana, he said, calling for collaboration to raise standards across all member countries.
As part of Ghana’s commitment to sports development, the Minister announced the establishment of a Sports Fund aimed at strengthening grassroots athletics.
He highlighted the need to provide young athletes with proper facilities, noting that competing on standard tracks and using appropriate equipment should be a basic requirement, not a privilege.
The era of athletes running barefoot or improvising equipment must end. Every athlete deserves the right support, including proper spikes, he stated.
Mr Adams also commended World athletics president Sebastian Coe for his leadership, praising efforts that have enhanced fairness, competitiveness, and the global appeal of athletics over the past decade.
However, he called for sustained capacity building across African countries to keep pace with the evolving nature of sports, stressing the need for continuous support and development.
BY: Addy Kennedy Edem
