Ghana’s World Cup preparations have taken an intriguing turn, with the Ghana-China Business Chamber of Commerce pledging to deploy traditional Chinese medicine experts to support the Black Stars, including efforts to treat the persistent hamstring concern of talisman Mohammed Kudus.
The intervention forms part of a broader package of support discussed during a high-level meeting in Accra between the chamber’s acting Chairman, Liu Wen Min and Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Iddie Adams.
Sources described the closed-door engagement as “warm and fruitful”, with talks extending beyond immediate medical assistance to a wider framework for Ghana-China collaboration in sports development.
At the centre of the proposal is the deployment of a top Chinese traditional medicine practitioner to work on Kudus’s injury, a growing concern for the national team, as well as to address recurring fitness issues affecting players across Ghana’s various national sides.
Mr Liu indicated that the Chamber stood ready to provide sustained medical support, positioning traditional Chinese therapy as a complementary solution to modern sports medicine in Ghana’s high-performance environment.
The offer arrives at a critical moment as the Black Stars intensify preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where squad fitness could prove decisive.
However, while welcoming the intervention, Mr Adams swiftly expanded the conversation beyond treatment rooms to long-term structural investment, signalling a strategic push to leverage the partnership for broader gains.
The minister called for support in key operational areas, including the supply of kits, apparel and sports equipment for national teams, while highlighting systemic challenges in procurement that continue to hinder athlete preparation.
More significantly, he made a direct appeal for infrastructure development, including the construction of a modern, fully equipped boxing gymnasium to revive one of Ghana’s most storied sporting disciplines.
He further urged the establishment of modern sports centres nationwide to strengthen grassroots development and talent identification.
Turning to China’s dominance in table tennis, Mr Adams also sought targeted support for the discipline.
“We know China plays table tennis very well and I will like to appeal to your outfit to help us acquire table tennis balls, boards, rackets and other ping pong equipment for our locals here,” he said.
Mr Adams emphasised that access to basic equipment remains a persistent bottleneck for many sports associations, limiting both participation and performance.
In response, Mr Liu gave firm assurances that the Chamber would take up the requests, pledging personal oversight to ensure delivery — a signal that the engagement could evolve into a deeper, multi-layered partnership.
If executed effectively, the collaboration could stretch far beyond a short-term medical fix — potentially reshaping Ghana’s sports ecosystem through a blend of alternative medicine, infrastructure investment and equipment supply.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh