Ghana’s Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia must have been thrilled to see a two-minute video during the Super Bowl showcasing the opportunities for collaboration with the NFL that he had spoken about in his policy address last week.
Dr. Bawumia announced that as President, he plans to make Ghana an African hub for alternative sports, by partnering with international bodies for such sports. This initiative follows his successful engagement with the NFL for a historic African NFL camp in Ghana.
During his address, Dr. Bawumia stated, “My government will also seek school-level collaboration with international sports bodies like the NBA and NFL to make Ghana a hub for these emerging sports in Africa, to create more opportunities for young people.”
The NFL, the governing body for American Football, agreed to host the first ever NFL Flag Football in Africa in 2022 after engaging with Dr. Bawumia. This has provided opportunities for young Ghanaians to be selected to represent Africa in global NFL tournaments.
The NFL recently showed a powerful video documentary of the pathway program they held in Ghana during the Super Bowl, which highlighted the African camp the Vice President had spoken about.
The documentary featured a Ghanaian child, dressed in the recognizable public basic school uniform, who aspired to play American Football. The program, which was attended by two-time Super Bowl winner Osi, gave the child a real pathway to the game.
The documentary essentially communicated hope to the African child, emphasizing that every child is “born to play”. This reinforces Dr. Bawumia’s vision of making Ghana an African hub for emerging sports by collaborating with international sports bodies like the NFL.
In 2022, the NFL tweeted about Dr. Bawumia’s desire to partner with them to develop talents in Ghana and Africa, affirming the positive progress being made in the collaboration.
Overall, Dr. Bawumia’s vision for Ghana as an African hub for emerging sports, particularly in collaboration with the NFL, is gaining significant traction and could provide numerous opportunities for young Ghanaians to explore new and exciting pathways in the world of sports.