Haruna Adamu makes history as first Ghanaian to be elected PANASA President
By Maxwell Kumoye
Ghana’s Haruna Adamu has been elected President of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), making history as the first Ghanaian to lead the continental body in its more than 32-year history.
Adamu, a passionate Scrabble administrator and security expert, secured the mandate of English-playing Scrabble nations across Africa during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Monrovia, Liberia, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Elected unopposed, the Ghanaian takes over the leadership of the 24-member continental organisation from Nigeria’s Adekoyejo Adegbesan, ushering in a new chapter for African Scrabble administration.
His emergence marks a significant milestone for Ghanaian Scrabble and adds a new dimension to the leadership history of an organisation that has spent more than three decades promoting the game across Africa.
As president, Adamu is expected to lead efforts to strengthen the continental Scrabble community, expand opportunities for players and deepen cooperation among member nations as African players continue to pursue greater recognition on the global stage.
Meanwhile, congratulatory messages have begun pouring in from within the international Scrabble community following his election.
The World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) was among the first organisations to congratulate the new PANASA president, describing his emergence as a proud moment for the African Scrabble community.
In its congratulatory message, World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) expressed optimism that Adamu’s tenure would provide opportunities to build on the work and ambitions of previous administrators while advancing the game’s development across the continent.
The global body also highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration, improved opportunities for players and greater African influence on the international Scrabble stage.
WESPA pledged to work with Adamu and PANASA towards the continued growth of Scrabble worldwide, signalling its readiness to strengthen ties between the continental association and the global Scrabble community.
With his election, Adamu becomes the first Ghanaian to occupy the PANASA presidency, succeeding Adegbesan as the organisation looks towards its next phase of development.
His tenure will offer an opportunity to build on the foundations laid by previous leadership and pursue a shared vision for the growth of Scrabble across Africa.
