Ghana expands sports diplomacy through Asafa Powell invitation and U.S. envoy programme

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has extended an invitation to Jamaican sprinting legend Asafa Powell to visit Ghana. The invitation, made during a state visit to Jamaica, aims to inspire Ghanaian youth through Powell’s participation in a national youth sports festival.

Powell expressed interest in the visit, noting that sprinting can serve as a tool for diplomacy and cultural exchange to strengthen ties between Jamaica and Ghana. The visit is expected to be coordinated with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa.

In a separate sports diplomacy initiative, the United States Embassy in Accra announced a new Sports Envoy programme. Scheduled for September, the programme will bring two American professional athletes and coaches to Ghana to train high school coaches of female student-athletes in the Northern, Ashanti, and Greater Accra regions. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Rolf Olson stated the initiative is part of efforts to use sport to strengthen people-to-people relations and create opportunities for skills development.