Ghana is positioning itself to leverage major global platforms, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to attract increased U.S. investment into sports tourism, creative industries and technology, Minister for Sports and Recreation Mr Kofi Iddie Adams has announced.

Speaking at a high-level networking reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Accra in honour of the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for West Africa, Mr. William Stevens, Mr. Adams outlined Ghana’s renewed commitment to deepening cooperation with the United States across multiple sectors.

The event brought together U.S. diplomats, Ghanaian government officials, business leaders and stakeholders from academia, technology, culture and sports.

Mr. Adams described Ghana-U.S. relations as a “time-tested partnership” grounded in shared values, mutual respect and practical cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1957.

He highlighted education, sports, trade and cultural exchange as the core pillars driving the partnership.

The Minister revealed that more than 9,000 Ghanaian students are currently enrolled in U.S. universities for the 2023–2024 academic year — a figure he said demonstrates the strength of educational ties and Ghana’s commitment to human capital development.

He described these students as “living bridges” between both nations and called for expanded joint research, university collaborations and diaspora mentorship initiatives to support economic transformation.

Highlighting the pivotal role of sports in strengthening bilateral ties, Mr. Adams referenced Ghana’s historic football encounters with the United States at previous World Cups.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — to be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada — he noted that Ghana will play two of its matches in Boston and Philadelphia, both of which have vibrant Ghanaian diaspora communities.

He said these matches present “strategic opportunities” to engage U.S. investors, diaspora entrepreneurs, educational institutions and business leaders in expanding Ghana’s sports tourism and creative economy.

Touching on economic cooperation, Mr. Adams noted that Ghana-U.S. bilateral trade reached an impressive $3.8 billion in 2024, with U.S. exports to Ghana amounting to $968 million, and Ghanaian exports to the U.S. hitting $1.2 billion.

He said Ghana’s overall export value of $16.9 billion in 2023 reflects a growing and diversified economy, strengthened by its strategic role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to domestic reforms in sports development and youth empowerment, drawing inspiration from international best practices.

Mr. Adams concluded with a call for deeper, more practical collaborations between both countries, stressing that education, sports, trade and culture are interlinked pillars with enormous growth potential.

“As Ghana positions itself as a regional hub for investment, innovation and cultural exchange, the partnership with the United States remains essential to our development agenda,” he said.