Accra: Mr Paskal A.B. Rois, Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Ghana, held a meeting with Mr Kofi Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation, to discuss potential collaboration in football development. The engagement aimed at enhancing bilateral relations between Ghana and Indonesia by promoting grassroots sports and establishing structured partnerships to advance football in both countries.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Rois expressed his readiness to support the Ministry of Sports, having previously facilitated collaborations with other sectors. He highlighted the lack of assistance extended to the sports sector and voiced his commitment to advancing its mandate. He also congratulated Ghana on qualifying for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, acknowledging the team's resilience and dedication.
Mr Rois noted that many young Ghanaian footballers traveled to Indonesia to play for clubs, facilitated by visa support and diplomatic coordination. However, he pointed out the absence of a formal bilateral framework governing these exchanges. He proposed a structured agreement that includes club exchange programs, talent and skills transfer, joint training initiatives, exchange matches, and capacity-building with technology transfer.
In addition to his diplomatic efforts, Mr Rois, also known as Togbe Afrika in the music industry, introduced a patriotic song titled 'GO GO GO BLACKSTARS' to rally national support for the team ahead of the tournament.
In response, Mr Adams highlighted the ministry's new strategic direction under President John Dramani Mahama, which prioritizes grassroots and school sports development. This strategy aims to nurture young talents from the foundational level. He encouraged Mr Rois to work with coordinators for school and grassroots sports to ensure well-structured and beneficial collaboration for young athletes.
Mr Adams welcomed the proposed partnership and emphasized the importance of proper planning to ensure young players have adequate support systems when traveling abroad. He also noted the song's potential to restore public confidence, motivate players, unite the nation, and inspire young people. The song serves as a creative diplomatic tool, showcasing Ghana's tourism attractions and natural resources.
Mr Adams described the song as impactful and assured that it would be presented to the technical committee responsible for selecting official songs for the tournament. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening Ghana-Indonesia cooperation in sports, culture, and education.