THE USE OF SPORTS AS A TOOL FOR DIPLOMACY: THE CASE OF GHANA SINCE INDEPENDENCE

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.