The leadership of GOC met with Minister for Sports and Recreation to present strategic plan
The leadership of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has met with Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation, to present a comprehensive four-year strategic plan (2025–2029), aimed at achieving sustainable sporting success.
The meeting served as both a policy briefing and a status update on preparations for upcoming international assignments, including the Youth Olympics, the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and the 2027 All African Games.
Richard Akpokavie, GOC President, emphasised a shift in the nation’s sporting philosophy. He noted that for too long, the focus had been on the “event” rather than the “process,” hence the need for early engagement and advance preparations towards the upcoming games.
“This plan is our promise to the nation. We are moving beyond wishful thinking and laying a foundation for excellence that will endure,” Richard Akpokavie, GOC President, noted in presenting the document to the Minister.
The plan outlines a data-driven approach to athlete development, ensuring that training cycles are consistent and professionalised.
The Chef de Missions for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Dakar Youth Olympics, Ernest Danso and Evans Yeboah, both briefed the Minister on preparations regarding Team Ghana, logistics, and fundraising initiatives.
The Minister for Sports and Recreation told the GOC leadership that Ghana must prioritise long-term investments in preparation rather than the typical last-minute rush for competition funding.
Adams reiterated that sports must not be treated as merely a leisure activity, but as a major economic enabler for athletes, coaches, administrators, and others, while using major games to boost Ghana’s global brand—especially in the advent of AI, where people are losing jobs.
To ensure sustainable funding for sports, the Minister hinted that the recently introduced Ghana Sports Fund will alleviate the funding challenges.
“We have engaged the National Lottery Authority leadership, and very soon, the sports fund will be boosted by a dedicated lottery system designed specifically to fund sports infrastructure and athlete welfare. This initiative is slated for implementation as soon as possible to reduce the burden on the national treasury,” he said.
On the upcoming games, the Minister promised the government’s unflinching support for Team Ghana but advised the GOC to ensure transparent collaboration with all major stakeholders. “The GOC must roll out a nationwide campaign to drum up public support and corporate sponsorship,” he added.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ethical governance, ensuring every cedi raised for sports is directed toward athlete success and sports infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mrs Wilhelmina Asamoah; Ernest Danso and Evans Yeboah, both Chef de Missions for Team Ghana; and Charles Osei Asibey, Communications Director of the GOC.
