Abstract:
It is often argued that sports and politics should not be mixed. International sporting
organizations share this view in some respects, and based on it, Ghana and other countries
across the world have been banned on some occasions by organizations such as the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) on charges of state interference in the affairs of their national sporting
associations. Several studies have, however, traced a relationship between politics and sports,
with states using sporting activities in some instances to pursue their interests in international
politics. Scholars such as Stuart Murray refer to this as sports diplomacy. This study considers
how Ghana has practiced sports diplomacy. The objectives of the study are to analyse the
potential and actual role sports plays in the pursuit of Ghana’s foreign policy goals, find out
whether and how Ghanaian governments have deliberately used sports in this direction and
assess how Ghana’s participation in international sporting competitions has contributed to
foreign public knowledge, opinion and perception about the country. Ghana has participated
frequently in international sporting events such as the Olympics and FIFA world cups. Among
other things, the study, based on a qualitative approach, with interviews of persons from diverse
backgrounds in diplomacy and the sports sector finds that participating in international sporting
events has enabled the country to be represented in international fora, create and shape a good
image for itself across the world and improve its friendly relations with other countries. The
study also finds that regardless of the advantages the country derives from sports, there are
many challenges that beset the sports sector in Ghana, including funding and inadequate
training facilities. Recommendations made include the need for a consistent analysis of changes
in the international system by the government, with consideration to how the country’s
involvement in international sporting events could enable it to deal with new developments on
the international stage, formulating policies that would enable the government to appropriate
the publicity the country receives from participating in international sports and giving the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration a prominent and activie role in promoting
and marketing the country through its sportsmen and by facilitating the country’s participation
in international competitions.
