The President of the Ghana Basketball Association (GBBA), Alex Kukula, has called for sports events to be formally integrated into the popular December in GH festivities, stressing that organised competitions such as the Africa Basketball Festival (ABF) have the potential to significantly boost tourism, deepen youth engagement, and position Ghana as a leading regional hub for sports and entertainment during the festive season.

According to Kukula, December in GH has grown into a global attraction for the Ghanaian diaspora and international visitors, and incorporating high-profile sporting events would broaden its appeal beyond music and nightlife, offering visitors a more diverse and family-friendly experience. 

He noted that basketball, in particular, has a strong youth following and can serve as a powerful tool for talent discovery, community engagement, and healthy lifestyle promotion.

He further highlighted the economic benefits of sports tourism, explaining that well-packaged events attract spectators, athletes, and officials who contribute to hotel bookings, transportation, merchandising, and local businesses. 

Kukula argued that festivals like ABF could become annual flagship events on Ghana’s festive calendar if given the right institutional backing.

The GBBA president also underscored the need for strong partnerships among sports federations, corporate sponsors, government agencies, and event organisers, describing collaboration as critical to sustaining such initiatives and expanding their long-term impact. He said strategic investment and coordinated planning would help elevate the standard of sports events to meet international expectations.

Concluding, Kukula reaffirmed the Ghana Basketball Association’s commitment to supporting all basketball-related events and working closely with key stakeholders to ensure that sports play a central and visible role in Ghana’s December celebrations, alongside culture, music, and tourism.

Read: Alex Kukula: GBBA President praises ABF 2025