The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams, joined cyclists, dignitaries, and corporate stakeholders on Sunday, 31st August 2025, at the Black Star Square for the 6th edition of the PruRide cycling event.

The international competition, organised by Prudential Life Insurance Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Cycling Federation and Carbon AV (Project Managers), drew participants from Ghana, Nigeria, and Morocco.

As part of his symbolic gesture to flag off the event, Hon. Kofi Adams rode alongside the management of Prudential Life, executives of the Ghana Olympic Committee, the Ghana Cycling Federation, the National Sports Authority and other officials from the Sports Ministry on electronic bikes, marking the ceremonial start of a race that reinforces the Ministry’s commitment to sports tourism and environmental sustainability.

Delivering his keynote  remarks, the Minister acknowledged the expanding global footprint of cycling, which is currently valued at over $64 billion and projected to reach $135 billion by 2030, driven by bike-sharing, e-bikes, infrastructure investment, and elite competition.

He cited the Tour de France, which commands a staggering global viewership of over 3.5 billion, as a benchmark for what Ghana aspires to build.

“With the right partnerships and strategic investments from companies like Prudential Life, PruRide and other domestic cycling competitions have the potential to grow into continental and global platforms, attracting talent and tourism to our shores,” Hon. Adams stated.

The 2025 PRURide edition marked a significant milestone in gender equity, with equal prize money awarded to both the male and female champions. This, the Minister commended Prudential Life for and urged others to emulate.

The women’s 75km road race saw Nigerian cyclists Mary Samuel and Patience Effiong Otuodung clinch first and second place respectively, while Ghana’s Erica Sedzro secured third.

In the 100km Male Road Race, Solomon Tagoe of Gutten CC emerged victorious with an average speed of 34.68 km/h, followed closely by Frank Akuffo Awuku (TBT) and Prince Maison (Club Sky Team).

Hon. Adams used the occasion to highlight the government’s broader strategic agenda for sports equity, participation, and sustainability.

He reminded stakeholders that Cabinet has approved the establishment of a National Sports Fund, designed to support all sporting disciplines from grassroots to elite level, with corporate contributions and cross-sector partnerships as a major pillar.

Further, the Minister commended corporate sponsors such as Prudential Life Insurance Ghana for their support, noting that ESG-aligned sports like cycling offer sustainable pathways for branding, health promotion, and youth empowerment.

“Cycling is not just a sport, it is a green, inclusive, and globally recognised tool for economic transformation, climate awareness, and international exposure. We want to develop it to a level where cyclists from across the world will come to Ghana annually, just as they do for the Tour de France,” the Minister concluded.

The CEO of Prudenrial Life Insurance Ghana, Jane Dornukuor Mingle expressed gratitude to the Minister, the NSA, the cycling federation and other partners for their support and assured of the company’s readiness to support cycling and sustainable development in Ghana.

This marks the first time a sitting Minister has personally attended the PruRide event, a fact acknowledged by General Secretary of the Ghana Cycling Federation, Mr. Shaaban Mohammed, as a strong signal of the Ministry’s renewed attention to alternative sports and tourism integration.