Kofi Adams, Russian Sports Minister discuss MoU on training, scholarships

The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has held bilateral talks with Russia’s Minister of Sport, Mikhail Degtyarev, on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen sports development cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 14th International Sports Forum, “Russia: Country of Sports,” in Krasnoyarsk, where the two ministers explored opportunities for collaboration in athlete development, training, scholarships, grassroots sports and anti-doping.

The proposed agreement is expected to provide a formal framework for cooperation, with the preparation of a draft MoU identified as the next step towards establishing the partnership.

Adams highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for young Ghanaian athletes to access quality training and education in Russia, noting the need to strengthen the structures for identifying and developing sporting talent.

He also outlined Ghana’s efforts to restructure school and grassroots sports, stressing the importance of building a strong foundation for talent development from an early age.

The Russian delegation expressed readiness to explore additional scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian students, potentially providing access to educational and professional development opportunities alongside sports training.

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Both sides also discussed collaboration across various sporting disciplines, including opportunities to improve technical expertise and strengthen the systems supporting athlete development in Ghana.

Sports financing featured prominently in the discussions, with Kofi Adams introducing the Ghana Sports Fund as part of efforts to establish a more sustainable source of investment for sports infrastructure, athlete development and welfare.

The Russian delegation expressed interest in understanding the Fund’s structure, particularly its governance, revenue sources and operational arrangements. The exchange could provide an avenue for both countries to share experiences in sports financing and institutional management.

Anti-doping was another key area of discussion, with Mr Adams reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to promoting clean sport while emphasising the need to protect athletes’ rights and ensure fair procedures.

He stressed the importance of educating athletes about anti-doping regulations and ensuring that the processes are handled in ways that safeguard their careers and uphold the principles of fairness.

The discussions also touched on broader international sports cooperation, particularly the importance of creating opportunities for athletes to train, compete and improve their performance through bilateral partnerships.

The proposed MoU is expected to outline the priority areas for collaboration and define the responsibilities of both countries as efforts to formalise the agreement continue.

PAH/MA

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