The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, on Friday, December 12, 2025, received Tong Defa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ghana, in a high-level courtesy call focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in sports development, talent exchange, and technical partnerships.
During the meeting, Adams acknowledged China’s longstanding support for Ghana’s development, including investments in infrastructure, mining, agribusiness, and technology.
He praised China’s cultural resilience and global leadership in sports such as table tennis, noting, “I have been to China several times, and what strikes me is how you’ve protected your traditional values while driving innovation. We admire your model and believe Ghana can learn a lot from it.”
The Minister briefed the Ambassador on Ghana’s ongoing sports reforms under the guidance of President John Dramani Mahama, with a special focus on the school sports revival agenda aimed at strengthening grassroots development as the foundation for future elite performance.
Adams expressed keen interest in exploring public-private partnership (PPP) opportunities with China to rehabilitate and construct multi-purpose sports courts, particularly in schools and districts across the country.
He also proposed structured technical exchange programmes between Ghanaian and Chinese coaches, especially in table tennis, to accelerate athlete development.
Further areas of discussion included capacity building for Ghanaian technical officers and sports directors, leveraging Chinese sports infrastructure models to strengthen grassroots systems, and expanding training support through initiatives such as the ITTF-Ghana table tennis programme in China.
The meeting also touched on upcoming opportunities under the Africa–China People-to-People Exchange Year in 2026.
In response, Ambassador Tong Defa highlighted China’s readiness to deepen collaboration with Ghana in sports, citing successful partnerships in other sectors and emphasising the role of sport in diplomacy.
He referenced ongoing initiatives, including the Confucius Institute, the Cape Coast Stadium, and Chinese scholarship programmes, as models of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Both sides agreed to explore a structured bilateral framework to guide future engagements in sports and recreation, with a focus on youth development, infrastructure, and talent mobility.
The meeting underscores Ghana’s commitment to positioning itself as a trusted partner in Africa’s sport diplomacy efforts. It marks a significant step toward building sustainable, people-centred partnerships between the two countries.
