The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has made a strong policy call for the economic transformation of African football at the African Football Business Summit (AFBS25), held in Mombasa, Kenya, on 23rd and 24th October 2025
Organised by Football Foundation Africa, the Summit convened influential stakeholders including federation presidents, sports ministers, investors, club executives, broadcasters, and marketing experts from across the continent.
In his keynote address, Adams outlined Ghana’s recent football reforms including the launch of a government-backed broadcast partnership, a GHS 1 million capital support package to each Ghana Premier League club, and the introduction of a restructured prize system where Ghana premier league clubs earn end-of-season rewards, with the 2025/26 champion set to receive GHS 2 million – a fourfold increase from the previous allocation.
The Minister urged African federations to institutionalise national football business conversation, incentivise private-sector partnerships through tax reliefs and infrastructure assurance, and expand youth academies into viable talent and employment centres.
He also advocated for the commercialisation of local football data, digital storytelling, and merchandising to position grassroots development as both a sport and economic strategy.
“Africa must stop exporting raw talent and start exporting finished football products, with value chains built on the continent.
From Accra to Algiers, Nairobi to Lagos – the future is African. But the market will only respond if we organise, invest, and execute,” Adams stated.
The Minister’s address sparked high-level engagements with continental stakeholders, including:
- Brian Wesaala, CEO of Football Foundation Africa and Convener of AFBS25,
- Nick Mwendwa, President of the Football Kenya Federation,
- Urs Lehmann, CEO of Infront Sports,
- Marlon Glean, President of the Grenada Football Association,
- Majidane M’Djih, CEO of MRW Sport Capital, among others.
In closing, Adams reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to a new football economy that prioritises transparency, grassroots excellence, local value retention and continental collaboration.
