The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has officially launched Ghana’s first-ever certificate course in sports psychology, with a call for more focus on the critical role of mental preparedness in athletic performance.

Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, March 24, 2025, the Minister stressed that Ghana’s sports sector must embrace psychology as a core element in training, coaching, and management.

“Sports cannot develop without looking at all the components. In the past, we cared less about the mental conditioning of athletes, but psychology contributes hugely to their success,” he stated.

He pointed out that psychological resilience is what enables para-athletes and other physically challenged sportsmen to excel despite their limitations. He also noted that psychological barriers could impact otherwise talented athletes, saying:

“That is why you can have an athlete who performs exceptionally well during training but fails in competition—because we did not factor in psychology during training. Some athletes struggle with stage fright, while others feel intimidated by international competitors. If our trainers understand this and incorporate psychology into their work, our athletes will be better prepared to perform at the highest level.”

The Minister also called on the media to play a constructive role in shaping the psyche of athletes, urging journalists to focus on positive narratives that encourage and motivate Ghanaian sportsmen and women.

Course

The five-day course, jointly organised by the National Sports College (NSC) and the National Sports Authority (NSA), is the first of its kind in Ghana. It aims to bridge the gap in psychological training within the sports sector.

Acting Director General of the National Sports College, Fuseini Bawa, highlighted the importance of the course, explaining that while sports psychology is typically studied at the PhD level, this programme provides an accessible professional certificate course.

“In Ghana, we have never lacked talent, strategy, or competition. What we have always lacked is the psychological aspect of sports,” he noted.

Bawa revealed that the programme had been oversubscribed, with 70 registered participants and an additional 20 observers. Due to high demand, he assured stakeholders that similar courses would be organised soon, with plans to expand to diploma and degree levels in the future.

He also urged sports federations and clubs to utilise the trained professionals from the programme.

“If you sponsor people to come for this course and don’t use them, what is the point? We want to ensure that the knowledge and skills acquired here are put to effective use,” he emphasised.

Calls for long-term investment in Sports Psychology

One of the course facilitators, Dr Elvis Hagan Jnr., underscored the global importance of sports psychology and called for sustained investment in the field in Ghana.

“Many nations are giving huge scientific support for sports psychology, but in Ghana, we have paid lip service to this for too long. This initiative is a crucial step in the right direction,” he remarked.

Dr Hagan suggested that the course be institutionalised as an annual or biennial programme to ensure continuity and increase the scientific capacity of local coaches and PE teachers.

NSA pledges support for sports psychology

The Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, also lauded the initiative, describing it as historic.

“We know how important psychology is, not just in sports but in everyday life. This is a groundbreaking moment, and I am honoured to be part of it,” he stated.

He expressed optimism that the course would yield long-term benefits for Ghana’s sporting community and pledged the NSA’s support for future training initiatives in sports psychology.

The five-day certificate programme is being facilitated by Dr Elvis Hagan Jnr. from Germany and Dr Medina Srem-Sai from the University of Education, Winneba.

Participants will receive a professional certificate from the National Sports College, the only accredited institution in Ghana authorised to issue such qualifications.