The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, is making a big push for sports to help save our planet! He shared some exciting green ideas at the Global Sports and Sustainability Forum 2025 in Cape Town.
Speaking to a crowd of important people like sports leaders and climate supporters, the Minister encouraged everyone to think of sports facilities as places that can help both the environment and local communities.
The event, hosted by SPORTS20 with the theme “Another World Is Possible,” brought together voices from all over the globe to discuss how sports can tackle big problems like climate change and the loss of wildlife.
In his opening speech, the Minister pointed out that sports are affected by climate change, but they also contribute to it.
“Flooded fields, hotter temperatures, and crazy weather are messing up games and practice times,” he said. “Plus, the huge carbon footprint from big sports events is like the electricity use of millions of homes. We need to take action now!”
Kofi Adams also mentioned that the government, led by John Mahama, will soon start a new National Recreation Agency. This agency will focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle that cares for the environment.
Some of the cool programs they plan to launch include National Recreation Day and National Aerobics Day. These events will encourage people to plant trees, clean up their neighborhoods, and participate in eco-friendly sports activities.
The Minister also talked about the serious damage caused by illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey.
To help with this, Ghana will create community sports academies and green parks on lands that have been harmed by mining. This will give young people new job opportunities through sports.
He praised organizations like SUCCA Africa, GHALCA, and SPORTS20 for their efforts in promoting the Green Futball Initiative, which is making climate awareness a big part of Ghana’s sports culture — from the boardrooms to the locker rooms.
“Thanks to SUCCA Africa’s ESG frameworks, Ghana is becoming a model for sustainable football in Africa,” he said.
The forum also featured a powerful talk by Prince Osisiadan, the CEO of SUCCA Africa. He connected climate change and the loss of biodiversity to the future of sports.
He warned that if we don’t act quickly, sports will face more cancellations due to extreme weather, loss of natural playing fields, and worse public health.
GHALCA President John Ansah agreed, saying, “We’ve talked enough; now it’s time to take action. African football can set a great example for sustainability. By committing to green practices, we can protect our environment and inspire future generations to play sports in an eco-friendly way.”
Stefan Wagner from Sports20 in Germany added that this forum is a turning point, not just for discussions, but for everyone working together to take climate action through sports.