Haruna Adamu makes history as first Ghanaian PANASA president

Haruna Adamu

Ghana‘s Haruna Adamu has made history after being elected president of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), becoming the first Ghanaian to lead the continental body in its more than 32-year history.

Adamu emerged unopposed at the association’s Annual General Meeting in Monrovia, Liberia, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, according to a report by Independent Newspaper Nigeria.

He succeeds Nigeria‘s Adekoyejo Adegbesan as president of the 24-member organisation responsible for promoting and developing Scrabble across Africa.

The election represents a major milestone for Ghanaian Scrabble and places Adamu at the forefront of efforts to strengthen the game’s administration and competitive development across the continent.

 Haruna Adamu takes charge of African Scrabble

The new PANASA president brings experience in Scrabble administration to the position, having been actively involved in the development of the game in Ghana.

His election also marks a shift in the leadership of the continental organisation, which has spent more than three decades bringing together English-language Scrabble-playing nations in Africa.

Adamu will be expected to build on the work of previous administrations while strengthening relationships among member associations.

Expanding opportunities for players, improving cooperation between national federations and promoting African talent internationally are among the key areas that could shape his tenure.

The new leadership also comes at a time when African Scrabble continues to pursue greater visibility and influence within the international playing community.

Haruna Adamu and the future of Ghanaian Scrabble

Adamu’s elevation is a significant moment for Ghana, which now has the opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the direction of continental Scrabble.

His experience in the country’s Scrabble administration provides a foundation for engaging national associations and supporting initiatives aimed at growing participation in the sport.

In an earlier interview published by TheNewsGuru, Adamu expressed his ambition for the game, saying: “Our goal is to give the game of words lift.”

https://thenewsguru.ng/news/our-goal-is-to-give-the-game-of-words-lift-president-of-scrabble-association-of-ghana-haruna-adamu/

The remark reflects his stated interest in advancing Scrabble, although the priorities and specific programmes of his new PANASA administration are yet to be detailed publicly.

His presidency will also provide an opportunity to strengthen grassroots participation and create pathways for emerging players to compete at higher levels.

For Ghanaian players and administrators, having one of their own lead the continental body represents an important opportunity to contribute to the game’s future across Africa.

 WESPA congratulates Haruna Adamu

The World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) has congratulated Adamu following his election as PANASA president.

The international organisation expressed optimism that his administration would build on the achievements and ambitions of previous leaders while advancing the development of Scrabble across the continent.

WESPA also highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration, better opportunities for players and greater African representation on the international stage.

The global body pledged to work with Adamu and PANASA to support the continued growth of Scrabble worldwide.

Such cooperation could help strengthen connections between African players and the wider international Scrabble community, particularly through development initiatives and opportunities for competitive participation.

However, the precise programmes and targets of the new administration have not yet been outlined in the available election report.

 Haruna Adamu inherits a continental mandate

Adamu succeeds Adegbesan at the head of an organisation representing 24 member nations, with responsibility for promoting the growth and development of Scrabble across Africa.

His emergence unopposed gives him the mandate to lead the association into its next phase, although the practical impact of his leadership will depend on the policies and programmes introduced during his tenure.

Building stronger national associations, supporting players and improving the continent’s standing in international competitions will remain important considerations for African Scrabble.

For now, his election stands as a historic achievement for Ghana and a new chapter for PANASA.

The post Haruna Adamu makes history as first Ghanaian PANASA president appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.