Ankara: Ghana's Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr. Kofi Iddie Adams, has reached out to the government of Trkiye to broaden scholarship opportunities for Ghanaians in sports-related fields. This initiative was discussed during his working visit to Trkiye, where he met with leaders from the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency in Ankara.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Turkish Scholarship programme, established in 2011, has globally benefited over 45,000 students, with 628 applications expected from Ghana in 2025. Mr. Adams emphasized Ghana's commitment to educating more sports professionals to enhance the country's sports ecosystem. He mentioned that under President John Dramani Mahama's leadership, reviving school sports is a priority, and training opportunities in Trkiye are pivotal to this vision.
Mr. Adams called for the inclusion of sports science, management, and recreation studies in the scholarship opportunities available to Ghanaian students. He further highlighted the potential for deeper collaboration in areas such as sports management, sports medicine, and the development of community parks and sports academies, alongside capacity-building programmes.
Expressing gratitude towards YTB and the Turkish agency for their contributions to Ghana's human resource development, Mr. Adams noted the long-standing relationship between Ghana and Trkiye, dating back to 1958, has been strengthened through strategic partnerships.
Mr. Abdulhadi Turus, President of YTB, expressed readiness to expand scholarship slots to cover more sports-related programmes, which will provide Ghanaian students with advanced training in Trkiye. He mentioned that scholarship placements could be aligned with the development priorities of partner countries, supported by Turkish language training and postgraduate opportunities.
Mr. Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, reaffirmed the agency's support for youth and sports-related programmes and acknowledged the role of sports in fostering development. He welcomed the proposals from the Sports Minister and encouraged the submission of a formal list of areas for technical and financial cooperation.
The meeting concluded with both parties pledging to deepen educational and cultural cooperation and to align future scholarship programmes with Ghana's national development priorities.
