Ghana has called for a new era in African football — one driven by strategic policy, investment, and value retention rather than passion alone. Speaking at the African Football Business Summit in Mombasa, the Ghanaian delegation led by Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, underscored the need for a business-oriented approach to football development across the continent.

In his address, the Minister emphasised that Africa’s football future must be anchored on sound policy frameworks, commercial innovation, and long-term value creation, warning that raw enthusiasm without structure would not sustain growth.

“Africa’s football future will not be built on passion alone. It must be built on policy, commercial sense, and long-term value retention,” he stated.

Outlining Ghana’s ongoing reforms, he highlighted the government’s “Grass to Class Policy”, which aims to convert community pitches into modern green turfs; capital injection into local clubs; a restructured prize model to reward performance and sustainability; and the development of a national broadcast deal to enhance visibility and revenue generation.

“Grassroots must become a market. Data must become an asset. Players must be finished products, not raw exports. That’s how we keep value on this continent,” he added.

The summit, which brought together football administrators, investors, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond, served as a key platform for collaboration on the continent’s sports economy.

The Minister held discussions with several key stakeholders, including Brian Wesaala, CEO of Football Foundation Africa; Hussein Mohammed, President of the Football Kenya Federation; Marlon Glean, President of the Grenada Football Association; and Mokgatle Mokgatle, CEO of MRM Sport Capital.

From Accra to Algiers and Nairobi to Lagos, the discussions reflected a shared understanding: Africa must move from “passion to policy, from hype to heritage, and from potential to product.

”The Minister concluded with a rallying call for action, saying,“The future is African — but only if we organise, invest, and execute.”