The Minister for Sports and Recreation,  Kofi Adams, has pledged full support for the development of golf as part of a broader strategy to harness sport for youth empowerment, environmental education and national development.

He made the commitment during a high-level meeting with the leadership of the Professional Golfers’ Association of Ghana (PGA), held in Accra.

The courtesy call, led by PGA President Hans De Beer, focused on establishing long-term collaboration between the Ministry and the Association to reposition golf as a vehicle for sporting excellence, sustainability and social inclusion.

Adams underscored the need to diversify attention within Ghana’s sporting landscape. “It’s important to give attention to a sport like golf not only to enhance its development but also its economic benefits, especially to the youth,” he said. He noted that golf promotes essential values such as discipline, strategy and respect for nature — attributes he believes are crucial for personal and national development.

The Sports Minister welcomed the PGA’s proposal to introduce golf in schools, describing it as a visionary initiative that could shape the future of sports and environmental awareness among young people. 

“Every golfer becomes an advocate for the environment, and I strongly believe it is time to introduce golf in schools,” he said. “This initiative would nurture young minds to value green spaces while embracing a sport that has enormous potential for tourism, health, and character development.”

Adams, who is also the Member of Parliament for Buem, assured the PGA delegation that their engagement would not remain a one-off event but would evolve into practical collaborations. These include the rollout of golf-in-schools programmes, climate-awareness campaigns, and regional outreach projects designed to grow the game at the grassroots level.

The Minister also noted that sustainable sports development requires partnerships and collective action. “Sports development cannot thrive in isolation. It needs strong partnerships, visionary planning, and collective action,” he said.

President of the PGA, Hans De Beer, expressed appreciation for the Minister’s willingness to collaborate and his commitment to advancing both amateur and professional golf in Ghana. “We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry and contribute to the growth of the sport in the country,” Mr. De Beer said. He also praised the Ministry’s support for ongoing PGA activities and reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to aligning golf with national development goals.

The meeting marked the beginning of what both parties expect to be a long-term partnership to reposition golf in Ghana’s sporting framework while integrating it with environmental advocacy and education.

Among the PGA officials present were Vice President Alhaji Ahmed Padori, Tournament Director Eric Henaku, Assistant Tournament Director Francis Torgah, Senior Member Emos Kwablah, and Secretary of the Ladies’ Professional Golfers of Ghana, Mercy Werner.

The collaboration is expected to revitalise golf in Ghana, inspire a new generation of players, and underscore the role of sport in promoting sustainability and national progress.