Ghana’s Sports Minister urges Turkey to widen scholarship opportunities for sports professionals

Mr. Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation, has appealed to the government of Türkiye to expand scholarship opportunities for Ghanaians pursuing sports-related programmes. The call was made during his working visit to Türkiye, where he held meetings with the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency in Ankara.

Since 2011, the Turkish Scholarship programme has supported over 45,000 students worldwide, with 628 applications recorded from Ghana in 2025 alone. The Sports Minister stressed that Ghana is determined to train more sports professionals to strengthen the country’s sports ecosystem, noting that under President John Dramani Mahama, the government is prioritising the revival of school sports. He explained that advanced training opportunities in Türkiye would be crucial in achieving this vision, particularly in areas such as sports science, management, and recreation studies.

Mr. Adams further underscored the importance of collaboration in sports management, sports medicine, community park development, sports academies, and capacity-building initiatives. Expressing appreciation for Türkiye’s continued partnership, he highlighted the strong bilateral relations dating back to 1958, which have deepened through purposeful cooperation in education and human resource development.

Responding to the Minister’s proposals, Mr. Abdulhadi Turus, President of YTB, confirmed the readiness of the secretariat to expand scholarship slots for sports-related programmes, offering Ghanaian students opportunities for advanced training complemented by Turkish language courses and postgraduate options. Mr. Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, reaffirmed his agency’s commitment to supporting youth and sports initiatives, recognising the vital role of sports in national development. Both parties concluded by pledging to align future scholarships with Ghana’s development priorities while strengthening educational and cultural ties.