Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has urged greater free movement across Africa as a vital step to accelerate sports development and strengthen regional integration.

Addressing the Basketball Africa League Investor Summit in Kigali, the minister called on African governments to create enabling conditions for sports growth by dismantling travel barriers and fostering cross‑border cooperation.

The summit convened leading figures from the continent’s sports and infrastructure sectors to examine how sport can be harnessed as a catalyst for economic growth and sustainable development.

Hon. Adams took part in a high‑level panel discussion alongside Nelly Mukazayire, Gayton McKenzie, Adam Silver and Andreas Zagklis. Panel deliberations centred on investment prospects in sports infrastructure and approaches to ensure the sector’s long‑term viability.

Referencing Ghana’s ambitions under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, Hon. Adams emphasised that Africa must prioritise mobility to unlock greater opportunities in sport and economic advancement.

“Africa should be able to travel freely among its nations,” he said, adding that easing movement across borders would significantly benefit sports development and regional economic growth.

The minister also highlighted the necessity of investing in grassroots sport and youth development programmes to establish a sustainable pipeline of talent.

“If we want to produce elite athletes, we must build a strong foundation,” he noted. “Ghana has established structures like the Grassroots Sports Secretariat and the School Sports Organisation to nurture young talent from an early age.”

Hon. Adams further advocated for more robust public‑private partnership frameworks to attract investment into Africa’s sporting sector, observing that government action alone would be insufficient to drive progress.

“A clear and well-defined PPP structure is essential so investors know the proper channels to follow,” he explained.

He also urged African nations to reposition the continent as a centre for talent development rather than simply a market for athletes.

“Africa must be recognised as a production line for sports, not just a market for athletes. We need to create opportunities here for our athletes to develop and excel,” he added.

The summit drew the attendance of President Paul Kagame, various government ministers, NBA executives, and current and former basketball stars, all united behind a shared objective of leveraging sport for economic and social transformation across Africa.