The United States Embassy in Ghana is set to expand its sports diplomacy initiatives with the introduction of a new Sports Envoy Programme aimed at strengthening youth engagement and skills development through sport.
U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires in Ghana, Rolf Olson, announced the initiative in Accra while hosting journalists who covered the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The programme will bring two U.S. professional athletes and coaches to Ghana to engage with local coaches and young athletes.
Among the sports envoys is Ghanaian-American former professional footballer Kofi Sarkodie.
The envoys are expected to work with high school coaches and female student athletes as part of efforts to promote sports development and create opportunities for young people.
They will also lead a two-day train-the-trainer programme for high school coaches in the Northern, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.
According to Mr Olson, the initiative is designed to use sport as a platform for youth development while strengthening people-to-people relations between Ghana and the United States.
He said the programme forms part of the Embassy’s broader efforts to deepen bilateral relations through sports, cultural exchanges and other people-to-people initiatives.
The Sports Envoy Programme is expected to provide Ghanaian coaches and athletes with opportunities to learn from experienced U.S. professionals while promoting greater participation in sports, particularly among young people and female athletes.
