For a long time, it seemed like Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye was destined for the role of Minister of Sports and Recreation under the John Mahama government.
His outlook as a reformist during his first stint as a sports minister and the state of Ghana sports, particularly football, which most people admit needs an immediate and massive overhaul, had made him the quintessential candidate for the role.
Further fueling suspicions of his potential appointment as Minister of Sports and Recreation were public endorsements by industry players and reports from pro-NDC social media pages that his appointment was just a matter of when and not if.
The resignation of Dr. Randy Abbey from his role as host of Good Morning Ghana, however, seemed to have thrown a spanner in the works for Nii Lante Vanderpuye’s chances, as the role reportedly became a coin toss between the two.
Out of nowhere, however, Kofi Adams, whose name had been absent from the reports, made a strong entry as the preferred candidate of President John Dramani Mahama, torpedoing Nii Lante Vanderpuye and Dr. Randy Abbey, who until his announcement on Monday, January 20, was headed for a role in the oil and gas sector.
A statement from the presidency on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, confirmed Kofi Adams, who is the Member of Parliament for the Buem Constituency, as the sports and recreation minister nominee.
The announcement shocked the sporting world in Ghana, as little is known about Kofi Adams’ connection with the industry beyond his public admission of being a huge boxing fan, which is not surprising as he was a long-time aide of late President Jerry John Rawlings, who was a boxing aficionado.
As we digest the story, which is arguably the most surprising ministerial nomination so far, GhanaWeb brings you a profile of Kofi Adams.
Below is Kofi Adams’ profile:
Full name Kofi Idie Adams, the now lawmaker for the Buem Constituency, was born on May 2, 1975.
He is a native of Teteman in the Jasikan District of the Oti Region.
A former teacher at Adisadel College, Kofi Adams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with an emphasis on Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases.
Kofi Adams subsequently became the Spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs for Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings (Rtd), a role he served until 2014 when he became the National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He previously also served as Deputy General Secretary of the NDC.
In the 2016 elections, Kofi Adams was appointed as campaign coordinator of the NDC.
Kofi Adams made his way to Parliament after winning the Buem Constituency seat on the ticket of the NDC in the 2020 elections.
His good works appeared to have paid off as he was elected for the second time by the constituents in the 2024 elections.
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