Sports
Alumni and Ghana’s sports development
Schools have become targets for almost every sports federation in Ghana that aims to broaden the base of their various sports disciplines.
Even football, which is believed to have the biggest numbers in terms of followership, is still hovering around the schools, combing every corner to identify and harness new talent at tender ages.
Phrases like ‘Catch them young’ have perfectly been coined to give credence to this practice.
Boxing, athletics and others follow similar trends; going lower than talent identification at the Senior High School level.
That speaks of the importance of this struggle to look for talented performers at their very youthful stages with the hope of grooming them to become world beaters.
Sadly, these young chaps develop up to a certain level, only for the progress to be curbed dues to factors like nonexistence of infrastructure.
Once again, football leads the pack of sports disciplines with the largest infrastructure. Perhaps, it may be so because in our part of the world, all one needs to show prowess in football is an open space.
But it is not so with the others.
Those that suffer most in this regard are the disciplines considered indoor sport.
In the advanced countries, disciplines like netball, handball, volleyball, judo, taekwondo, badminton, basketball, table tennis and others are considered indoor sports; and they are mostly played within.
This is different in our part of the world. In Ghana, playing these sports indoors are considered luxury because there are very few facilities to accommodate them.
Aware of this challenge, most of the sports courts in the country have been constructed in such a manner that can accommodate more than one discipline.
It is common, therefore, to see one court with markings for tennis, volleyball, handball and basketball. The aim is to use them as a multi-sport facility and be used from morning to evening.
The story about the circumstances under which the Aburi Girls SHS basketball team plays was a pathetic one. This is a school with a good history in basketball, dating back to the 2000s.
However, it lacks a good basketball court, compelling the children to play on a poor surface car park which exposes the children to varying degrees of injuries.
The unfortunate situation facing such federations eventually hinders the development of these rising stars because they lack the facilities to be active.
Madam Aurora Commodore-Toppar, a basketball enthusiast and Treasurer of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBF) came through for the Aburi Girls School basketball team last weekend, donating an amount of Gh₵100,000 to support the construction of a multi-purpose sports court for the school.
The money would finance the initial phase of the project, which is the construction of the court.
The second phase of the project, which is the sitting area, is expected to be financed with proceeds from a fundraising exercise launched by the basketball aficionado.
Clearly, subsequent governments have all in a way reneged on that responsibility to provide adequate infrastructure for the respective sports to thrive.
But with that support not forthcoming, especially with the least financed sports, the support from corporate institutions and individuals like Madam Commodore-Toppar remains key in the sports development agenda.
Through the effort of Madam Commodore-Toppar supported by her 2000 year group, ABUGISS will boast of a modern sports court. This is an example the various year groups of the schools can follow in addition to the provision of boreholes and other facilities
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Armwrestling: Immigration, Prisons meet African champions
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) in separate ceremonies have welcomed officers of both security institutions who recently returned from Abuja, Nigeria after participating in the 14th Africa Armwrestling Championship.
The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr. Patience Baffoe Bonnie, and the leadership of the Service, were present to congratulate the champions, Daniel Acquah (four gold medals), Mabel Yeboah (four gold medals) and Henry Otoo (two silver, two bronze), on their impressive performances.
The champions presented their medals to the Director-General, and shared their experiences and insights with the top officials.
During the meeting, the Director-General of the GPS, Mrs Baffoe Bonnie, expressed her excitement about the potential benefits of sports for inmates.
She noted that sports could play a significant role in rehabilitation and pledged to support the development of armwrestling within the prisons service.
In a related development, the Comptroller-General of the GIS, CGI Samuel Basintale, commended his members – Edward Yamoah Asamoah (two gold medals), Blessed Abeka Nunoo (one gold, one silver, two bronze), Godwin Sackey (one gold, one silver) and referee Nii Otoo Larkyne, for the feat.
Mr Basintale promised to provide support for the development of armwrestling within the service, including training facilities, equipment, and sponsorship.
The African Armwrestling champions from the security services won a total of 20 medals out of Ghana’s 55 medal haul.
They expressed gratitude and promised to continue promoting the sport and inspiring others to take up armwrestling.
Mr Charles Osei Asibey, President for Ghana Armwrestling Federation, was thrilled by the promise and continuous collaborations and support for the development of armwrestling in Ghana by the security services.
—GNA
Sports
TTU to honour athletes at 2nd sports awards night
Takoradi Technical University (TTU) will tonight host its 2nd Sports Awards Night to honour outstanding athletes, teams, and contributors who have promoted the institution’s sporting reputation.
The event, which will take place at the Nicholas Aidoo Taylor Auditorium, will be chaired by Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, with Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, as Guest of Honour.
Other dignitaries expected include Member of Parliament for Effia, Isaac Boamah-Nyarko, and Municipal Chief Executive for Effia-Kwesimintsim, Abdul Majeed Dokurgu.
TTU said the awards will celebrate a year marked by exceptional performances, record-breaking moments, and contributions that have boosted both the competitive spirit and institutional pride of the university.
The ceremony will be held under the theme, “Recognising Excellence in Scholarship and Sportsmanship.”
The university noted that it has become a powerhouse in university sports, winning back-to-back championships at the GHATUSA Games in Tamale and Cape Coast.
It attributed the success to integrating sports into academic life, introducing sports scholarships, building the TTU Sports Complex, providing strategic funding, and offering strong logistical support.
Director of Public Affairs and Secretary to the Sports and Recreation Committee, Joseph Mensah Oti-Asirifi, said the awards go beyond recognising individual winners, adding that they are also a tribute to the discipline, resilience, and unity that define TTU’s sporting culture.
He stated that every nominee is a champion whose efforts have brought pride to the university and enhanced its reputation on both national and continental stages.
The programme will feature two segments of award presentations, with categories covering football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, tennis, handball, badminton, athletics, scrabble, and taekwondo, for both male and female divisions.
Nominees include Jane Membong in athletics, Hajara Ibrahim in basketball, Samuel Aidoo in football, and Prince Egyir in handball, as well as Papa Kwansa Baidoo, Prince Davies, and Ahmed Anas Salis.
Special awards will also be presented to individuals whose contributions have inspired the TTU community beyond the field of competition.
Chairman of the Sports and Recreation Committee, Joseph Danso, said the planning team has worked to ensure the event captures the spirit of sportsmanship, dedication, and unity that characterise TTU sports.
The university recalled that the inaugural edition honoured Raymond French, Sarah Quansah, and Rebecca Mba, setting a high standard for sporting recognition.
By: Jacob Aggrey
