The University of Ghana (UG) has commemorated the 2026 World Intellectual Property (IP) Day with an event highlighting the growing importance of intellectual property in sports innovation, commercialization, and development.
The event, organised by the Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) in collaboration with the Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies (PESS) and the Sports and Wellness Directorate, was held under the global theme, “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate.” The celebration specifically explored the topic, “How IP is Powering Sports Innovation Globally.”
Participants including academics, sports administrators, students, sports enthusiasts and other stakeholders joined the event to discuss the role of intellectual property in transforming the sports industry.
Opening the session, Ms. Deborah Akyeampon, a Research Development Officer at RID, underscored the need to translate sports innovation into meaningful economic and developmental outcomes.
In her welcome remarks, Professor Nancy Quashie, Deputy Director of Research - RID, described athletes and sports organisations as valuable intellectual property assets whose brands, trademarks, and identities require strategic protection.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Annabella Osei-Tutu, Head of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies, linked the celebration to major global sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. She explained that broadcasting rights, branding, merchandising, sponsorships, and contractual agreements associated with these events demonstrate the central role of intellectual property in modern sports. She reaffirmed the University of Ghana’s commitment to promoting innovation and creativity through supportive institutional policies.
A panel discussion featured Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, Senior Lecturer at PESS(UG); Dr. Ernest Koranteng, Strategic Management Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of The Business Africa Consulting Group Limited; and Mr. Evans Yeboah, Sports Administrator and Finance and Management Consultant.
The panelists highlighted how intellectual property drives revenue generation in sports through broadcasting rights, sponsorships, licensing, and merchandising. However, they noted that weak enforcement of IP laws, piracy, illegal streaming, counterfeit merchandising, and low awareness among athletes and sports administrators continue to undermine the commercialisation of sports innovation in Ghana.
Using the Ghana Black Stars jersey as an example, the panel explained how inadequate IP protection can result in counterfeit products that affect both brand credibility and revenue generation. The discussion also emphasised the importance of institutionalising local sports innovations such as the “Super Clash” and the Security Services Sports Association (SESSA) Games to ensure sustainability and long-term economic benefits.
Among the key recommendations proposed were the review of existing intellectual property laws to include sport-specific provisions, stronger enforcement mechanisms, increased awareness creation, establishment of IP clinics to offer IP support to athletes, registration of trademarks for local clubs, and the development of a National Sports Intellectual Property Strategy.
The event concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among universities, sports federations, government agencies, African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to protect and commercialise sports-related intellectual property effectively.
The programmed concluded with a consensus that strengthening intellectual property systems within the sports sector is critical to promoting innovation, protecting creativity, and unlocking the economic potential of sports development in Ghana.