The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has called for anti-doping education to be embedded in Ghana’s sporting development system, warning that legislation and regulatory institutions alone could not protect athletes from performance-enhancing substances or safeguard the country’s sporting integrity.
The minister wants clean-sport education introduced at school and grassroots levels and sustained throughout the pathway to national teams, ensuring young athletes understand the risks of prohibited substances long before they enter elite competition.
At a stakeholder consultation organised by the Ghana Anti-Doping Agency (GADA) in Accra last Friday, Mr Adams insisted that Ghana must move beyond establishing regulatory structures to building an effective, independent and adequately resourced anti-doping system.
The discussion brought together sporting federations and other stakeholders to prepare for the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code, International Standards and updated Prohibited List, scheduled to take effect next January.
Mr Adams described the passage of the Ghana Anti-Doping Act, 2024 (Act 1116), and the establishment of GADA as significant milestones, but cautioned against mistaking institutional creation for effective athlete protection.
“The establishment alone cannot protect an athlete. The Ghana Anti-Doping Agency needs capacity and independence to fulfil its mandate,” he declared.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Buem argued that Ghana’s renewed emphasis on school competitions and grassroots talent identification must incorporate education on prohibited substances, medication risks and athletes’ responsibilities.
“As we revive school competitions and create pathways from communities to national teams, we must build clean sport education into that pathway,” he stressed.
For the minister, prevention must begin before athletes reach the national stage, where inadvertent violations can carry serious consequences for careers and reputations.
He illustrated the dangers confronting young competitors, citing the possibility of a district athlete being offered an unfamiliar substance or a school footballer taking medication without understanding its anti-doping implications.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GADA, Killian Kwame Abrampah, reinforced the position on early prevention, outlining plans to extend anti-doping education across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, while bringing coaches, handlers and parents into the campaign.
“We want to educate our people, not the athletes alone. Athletes, handlers, coaches and even parents must understand their responsibilities,” Mr Abrampah said, stressing that families also have a duty to protect young competitors from performance-enhancing substances.
With Ghana boasting more than 46 sporting federations, he said effective implementation would require collective responsibility to defend fair competition, athlete welfare and the country's international reputation.
Mr Abrampah also disclosed plans to expand testing. GADA currently conducts 10 World Anti-Doping Agency-sponsored tests annually but intends to introduce 20 additional tests nationwide from 2027.
The agency will engage further with stakeholders to meet the operational demands of implementing the revised Code.
The GADA Deputy CEO, Alhaji Suleman Osman, and Ghana Sports Fund Administrator, Dr David Kofi Wuaku, also addressed the consultation, highlighting the need for stronger institutional and financial backing. Ministry directors and Prince Wiafe of the GRA Customs Division attended.
However, only about 15 federations were represented at this key conference, compelling the Sports and Recreation Ministry to invite proposals to improve attendance at future consultations, underscoring the need for stronger coordination.
