Washington DC: Mr. Sharaf Mahama, Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Rise Sports, has called for greater investment in Africa’s sports and entertainment sectors. He emphasized the potential to reshape the continent’s global image and create meaningful economic opportunities for local communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Mahama was speaking at the Africa Business Conference hosted by Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC. Participating in a panel discussion on Media, Marketing, and Entertainment, he described sports and entertainment as Africa’s ‘modern soft power,’ capable of projecting new narratives of Africa to the world. Mr. Mahama stated, “Every time an African athlete or artist succeeds on the world stage, they challenge outdated narratives about Africa.” He added that Legacy Rise Sports focuses on supporting athletes to achieve the best on and off the field as ambassadors of a new African story-one of resilience, talent, and opportunity.
In a separate pitch session to investors, Mr. Mahama emphasized the need for impactful investment in African sports ecosystems, highlighting the lack of structured support for young athletes despite the continent’s rich talent pool. He outlined how Legacy Rise Sports was bridging this gap by combining elite talent scouting, athlete management, and global exposure strategies, while integrating diaspora-backed investment models. He noted, “Africa’s sports economy is projected to surpass US$20 billion by 2035.” He further stressed that unlocking this potential requires intentional partnerships that invest in both athletes and the communities that nurture them.
Mr. Mahama called on the diasporan communities and investors to join hands in shaping Africa’s sports future, pointing out that the African diaspora possesses over US$1 trillion in spending power, which could be pivotal in catalyzing development initiatives across the continent. At the conference, he showcased the work of Legacy Rise Sports, focusing on athlete development, media branding, and global exposure.
Key initiatives highlighted included the Ultimate Legacy Night, a major boxing and entertainment event held at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, which attracted thousands of spectators and featured prominent artists such as Davido and Azumah Nelson. Other initiatives are international Athlete Exposure, including sponsorships enabling young Ghanaian boxers to compete in the United Kingdom, talent development programs supporting over 40 athletes with structured mentorship, training, and branding support, and global advocacy and outreach, with recent engagements at Harvard University and now Johns Hopkins University.
Looking ahead, Mr. Mahama outlined Legacy Rise Sports’ ambition to train more athletes across 16 regions of Ghana by 2030 and create direct and indirect jobs through athlete education and empowerment.