Maiden ABF Sports, Innovation and Entertainment Summit Held at the UG

As part of the 2024 Africa Basketball Festival hosted at UG, organisers held a 1-day thought-leadership Summit, under the theme, “Reimagining the Game: Shaping the Future of Sports, Innovation and Entertainment.”

The ABF Sports, Innovation & Entertainment Summit brought together experts in Sports, Entertainment and Technology to discuss emerging trends in E-sports, innovations in sports broadcasting, the business of sports and entertainment, social impact through sports among others.

In her welcome address, the Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, acknowledged the organisers for choosing UG as the venue for the festival. ‘We look forward to engaging in partnerships with organisations that look out for the health and wellbeing of the community,’ she added. She wished the participating teams well in the competition. 

The Minister for Youth and Sports and MP for Yagaba-Kubori Constituency, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, touched on promoting grassroot sports initiatives to cultivate talent along with investment in infrastructure to support sustainable growth in the sector. 

The Minister also discussed the potential of digital platforms to promote sports inclusivity, accessibility and reaching broader audiences. “Let us focus on building a robust sports ecosystem that can elevate the economic potential of athletes, entrepreneurs and communities,’ he added.

In earlier remarks, the Director of the UG Sports and Wellness Directorate, Dr. Austin Luguterah, who also doubled as the Chairman of the LOC, noted that ‘this is more than just a festival. It’s a celebration of sports, culture and the spirit that defines the vibrant African basketball community.’ 

The Summit also featured keynote addresses and panel discussions. 

The Africa Basketball Festival (ABF) combined the game of basketball with music and fashion. The event assembled basketball teams from different countries to compete and showcase fashion brands and musical performances aimed to promote cultural exchange and foster international unity through sports and entertainment.

The University of Ghana served as host of the 2024 festival, which featured ten (10) participating countries from 24-27 October 2024..

As a curtain raiser, the University of Ghana Basketball team emerged as winners of the University Contest, after beating rivals Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) with a final score of 61 points.