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Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, advocated for easier cross-border movement for African athletes and enhanced cooperation with Russia to boost training prospects for young athletes during a panel discussion at the International Sports Forum in Krasnoyarsk. Adams emphasized that closer ties between Africa and Russia could facilitate Africa's sporting potential development, noting that his country has valued its relationship with Russia since 1958, even before gaining independence.

Sports, he asserted, have emerged as a powerful diplomatic tool for nations. The forum, which convened government officials, sports organizations, investors, and experts from 21 to 23 October, aimed to explore professional and grassroots sports development. Adams argued that strengthening sporting ties with Russia would bolster efforts to facilitate seamless movement across Africa, allowing the continent's sizable youth population better access to sporting opportunities.

With Africa's population standing at nearly 1.6 billion, nearly 60% under the age of 25, Adams highlighted the potential in Africa's youthful demographic, emphasizing the need to train and develop these young athletes, particularly in areas where the continent may lack adequate facilities. He stressed that Ghana had already made strides in football, boxing, and tennis, and aimed to further improve training opportunities in these sports.

Adams underscored the importance of grassroots development, stating that it is vital to provide early exposure to various sports and create pathways for young athletes to advance to elite levels or choose coaching as a career. Highlighting Ghana's reforms, Adams detailed the establishment of the Ghana Sports Fund under Act 1159 of 2025, which facilitates resource mobilization for athlete preparation, welfare, infrastructure, school sports, and recreational programs.

He also discussed the restructuring of school and grassroots sports through the Schools and Grassroots Sports Secretariat, designed to enhance coordination between early participation, talent identification, and elite development. These reforms are part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable sports system that creates opportunities for businesses in various sectors, including sports equipment, broadcasting, facility management, and digital services.

Adams' speech underscored youth development and international collaboration as pivotal to Ghana's sports aspirations, emphasizing the significance of laying strong foundations and providing opportunities for young people to progress in their chosen sports or coaching careers.