Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation, has called on the media to help brand sports to make it attractive for sponsorship and development.

He said sports was a big industry and that the media played an important role to the growth and development of sports in the country.

The Minister said these when the leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) paid a courtesy call on him at his office on Wednesday to officially welcome him as the new minster for sports and recreation.

He said the vision of President John Mahama was to develop sports from the grassroots therefore there was going to be a lot of reforms to revive community sports and lead the charge to bring back school sports.

He added that although funding had been the major challenge in the industry, his ministry would find innovative ways to fill in the funding gap.

The minister, who also doubles as the Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency mentioned that he was opened to criticism from the media but urged them to know when to criticize and when to motivate especially with the national sports teams.

He said open criticism would help him to do better as a minister and that his doors were opened for continuous collaboration with the media for mutual benefits.

Mr Kwabena Yeboah, President of SWAG and leader of delegation thanked the minister for welcoming the association and assured him of their support to make him succeed.

He said the association will work closely with the ministry build the brand and urged to minister to be open and welcoming to the media as he had welcomed the leaders of the sports media fraternity.

He urged the minister to effectively collaborate with the various sporting disciplines but particularly make the 2026 World Cup a personal project to ensure Ghana’s participation.

Other executive members present were the Evelyn Nsia-Asare, the Vice President, Charles Osei Asibey, Secretary-General, Kenneth Odeng Adade, Deputy Secretary-General, Mavis Amanor, Women’s Commissioner, Augustine Kwabena Ohene-Bampoe Brenya, Franklin Anane-Gymah, and Tilda Elinam Acorlor, Executive Board Members.

The delegation were welcomed to the ministry by Mr Willaim Kartey, Chief Director.