Ghanaian Athletes Vulnerable to Exploitative Recruitment Schemes: Sports Minister

Accra: More than 30 per cent of aspiring Ghanaian athletes have been exposed to exploitative recruitment schemes, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation, has said, unravelling the increasing cases of human trafficking through sport. Delivering a keynote address at the National Forum on Human Trafficking Through Sports in Accra on Thursday, the Minister said the problem was no longer a series of isolated incidents but a 'structured informal economy' that exploits the ambitions of young athletes. According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Adams revealed that close to 96 per cent of aspiring athletes express a strong desire to play abroad, primarily driven by economic realities. He emphasized that this is not random migration but a supply chain of vulnerability. The Minister also highlighted the connection between exploitation in sports and organized crime, citing the tragic case of a young Senegalese goalkeeper, Cheikh Touré, who was kidnapped and killed abroad after being lured with false promises o f a football trial. Addressing the government's response, the Sports Minister stated that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama is tackling the issue by prioritizing youth protection and domestic sports development. The recent separation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports into a Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and a Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, aims to enable more focused and effective interventions. As part of measures to stabilize the local football ecosystem, Mr. Adams announced that the government had allocated one million Ghana cedis to each Premier League club for the current season to support operations and player welfare. Additionally, the league-winning prize money will be increased from 500,000 Ghana cedis to two million Ghana cedis from the 2025/2026 season, with financial rewards extended to clubs finishing from first to fifteenth position. Highlighting future concerns, Mr. Adams warned of risks extending beyond athletes to fans, particularly in the context o f the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. He noted that fraudulent travel schemes could exploit supporters, potentially leading to financial losses and safety concerns for those attending the event. In his concluding remarks, Mr. Adams reiterated the importance of protecting Ghana's youth and sports talent from exploitation. He called for development through robust systems, protection through policy, and guidance through credible pathways, emphasizing the need to safeguard the dreams and futures of aspiring athletes.