Ghana and Belarus are considering a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in coach education, athlete scholarships, sports science and grassroots development.
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams held talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Sergey Kovalchuk, during the 14th International Sports Forum “Russia: Country of Sports” in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
The proposed partnership would also cover sports medicine, school sport and opportunities for young Ghanaians.
Improving the quality of coaching was identified as a central priority for Ghana, with Mr Adams saying the country was keen to learn from Belarus’s experience and systems.
“Coaching and training are really key,” he said.
Mr Kovalchuk said Belarus was willing to examine scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian students and provide technical training for Ghanaian coaches. Those opportunities could be offered through Belarusian state universities and specialist sports institutions.
Wrestling, rowing and weightlifting were among the sports discussed as possible areas for collaboration.
The ministers also considered how sports science and medicine could support athlete development. Mr Kovalchuk outlined Belarus’s investment in a dedicated sports science and medical centre, alongside specialised sports schools and Olympic training facilities.
Mr Adams said links in those fields could help Ghana build the expertise required to assist athletes through every stage of their careers.
“We have so many areas we have to collaborate in,” he said.
The talks extended beyond elite sport, with both sides discussing educational opportunities for young Ghanaians and possible ways to improve school and grassroots programmes.
Mr Kovalchuk recognised Ghana’s record in football, boxing and Olympic competition, and said the two countries could gain from exchanging knowledge and experience.
The discussions also included a reference to President John Dramani Mahama’s visit to Belarus earlier this year. That visit involved talks on cooperation in agriculture and other sectors.
Mr Kovalchuk invited Mr Adams to travel to Belarus and proposed that the memorandum could be signed during that visit, once the details had been settled.
Mr Adams indicated that he was interested in examining Belarus’s sports system and asked for a draft of the proposed agreement to review.
The memorandum, if completed, is expected to establish a framework covering coach training, scholarships, sports science and grassroots sport.
No agreement has been signed at this stage.
