Sports
Are we ready for Ghana 2023?
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
The aforementioned statement – made by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States – clearly underpins the importance of preparation.
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hardwork and learning from failure. Indeed, it is said that behind every brilliant performance there were countless hours of practice and preparation.
So, we have less than two years to hosting the continent’s biggest multi-sport festival – African Games; yet we cannot see any real preparation towards the event.
We were told that a new 50,000-capacity stadium was to be constructed for the 2023 African Games at Borteyman in the Greater Accra Region – with an amount of $200 million (£152 million/ €168 million) already earmarked for the project.
The President himself was thrilled by the fact that Ghana was going to have such facility which would include multi-purpose sports halls for all indoor sports, aquatic centres for swimming and tennis courts among others.
“Presently, none of the sports stadia in Ghana meets the required standard for continental games. It is, thus, necessary to construct appropriate sports facilities in the country that will be able to host the 25 sporting disciplines from the African Games,” President Nana Akufo-Addo said.
It is true that we do have the requisite facility to host the Games and the President could not have hammered it home better.
However, from the foregoing, many are beginning to cast doubt about the early completion of the project and by extension, the nation’s readiness to host the continent.
Interestingly, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2023 Africa Games, Dr Kweku Ofosu Asare, has reiterated Ghana’s readiness to host the Games.
He said works were progressing steadily to ensure that the country hosted a successful competition, adding that the government was committed and fully behind the Committee to organise a flawless event.
Aside the infrastructural challenges, we expect selected athletes from the respective medal-pumping disciplines to be sent intermittently on training programmes abroad to prepare them ahead of the 2023 Games. That exposure is extremely important.
That is the only way we can expect to win medals.
Cote d’Ivoire performed creditably well at the African Games in Morocco, picking five gold medals as against two by Ghana simply because they prepared better. Their feat did not pop up from nowhere! Years of investment and quality preparations paid off.
Four weightlifters were supposed to have gone for the Tokyo Olympic qualifiers in Kenya this week, but the trip had to be postponed because the Federation thought it was waste of funds since only one of them – Forrester Osei, had made it to the Games per the recent ranking by the World Weightlifting Federation (WWF).
Ideally, the rest should have been allowed to compete in the qualifiers, having trained vigorously ahead of the trip in which they had three domestic trials.
For sure, we know we cannot host and win! That is incontestable. However, we have got to put up a remarkably gleaming performance and garner home, perhaps, our biggest haul of medals in the Games history.
It is achievable! It is doable!
But the sector ministry must sit up and draw up an efficacious strategy as they seriously engage eggheads of the various potential medal-winning disciplines in the scheme of things – and chart the way forward.
We ought to get it right, this time around! No excuses!
Let us burn the candle at both ends now because 2023 is going to be more fiercely competitive than what was witnessed in Morocco.
The media have made it clear that they are ever ready to support the sports ministry, the National Sports Authority (NSA) and its associations to achieve their targets; but would not hesitate to whip them into line when they go off-course!
Once again, let the preparations start now!
We need more international competitions for our various athletes; that is the only way they can be in fine fettle for the onerous assignment ahead!
If South Africa wins many medals in Tokyo, we should not be surprised. Their team to the 2019 world university games was bigger than Ghana’s team to African Games. South Africa was 10th on the medals table, meeting some of the emerging names who show up at subsequent Olympics as winners. Already, some of their athletes made Olympic qualification time.
So before Tokyo, the State has invested in their preparation and test of medals potential. We have hammered on this over and over again but it is almost always fallen on deaf ears.
We set unimaginably high targets for our athletes with huge, cyclopean prizes to go with it when deep down our hearts we know they are not achievable!
Limpidly, you do not reap where you have not sown! Things do not work like that! The theatrics are increasingly becoming an eyesore now.
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGA
Sports
Gold Stars thrash Accra Lions to win historic 2024-25 Premier League title
Gold Stars FC completed a fairytale season by clinching their first-ever Ghana Premier League title in commanding fashion, demolishing Accra Lions 4-0 at a raucous Duns Park on Sunday.
The emphatic victory not only confirmed their place at the summit but also condemned the Lions to relegation, just a season after finishing second in the 2023/24 campaign.
Abdul Farouk Amoaful opened the scoring just four minutes into the game to ignite celebrations among the home fans. Kelvin Oppong doubled the advantage in the 19th minute, laying the foundation for a memorable finale.
Second-half goals from Samuel Kumi (73′) and Frank Amankwah (90′) capped off a dominant performance that saw the title secured with a three-point cushion.
While the home crowd erupted in celebration at full-time, the mood was starkly different for Accra Lions, who finished 15th and faced the drop after a disappointing and turbulent campaign.
Nations FC fall short in title chase
Nations FC, who had led the title race, fell at the final hurdle with a surprising 2-0 home defeat to third-placed Heart of Lions at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.
Goals from Samuel Boamah Quansah (18′) and Asante Sedorf (72′) handed the visitors a deserved win and dashed Nations’ title hopes. Despite an impressive campaign, Nations had to settle for second place as they await a judicial decision, just behind the newly crowned champions.
Kotoko pip rivals Hearts to fourth place
Asante Kotoko edged out bitter rivals Hearts of Oak for fourth place via head-to-head record, despite a 3-1 defeat to Vision FC at the Nii Kraku Adjei II Sports Complex. An own goal from Lord Xorse Kudzinya gave Kotoko the early lead, but a brace from Frank Duku and a goal by Edmund Asante turned the game around for the hosts.
Hearts of Oak, meanwhile, ended their campaign on a positive note with a 1-0 win over dethroned champions FC Samartex 1996 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Defender Konadu Yiadom scored the only goal in the 57th minute to give the Phobians their first-ever Premier League win against Samartex in Accra. Nonetheless, they finished fifth, just behind Kotoko.
Medeama disappointed, Aduana finish strong
Medeama SC wrapped up a frustrating campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Berekum Chelsea at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa. Vincent Klu Adjei opened the scoring for the visitors before Kingsley Braye equalized.
But former Medeama striker Kofi Ansu Patrick had the final say, scoring the winner five minutes from time to silence the home fans. Medeama finished eighth, while Chelsea ended the season in 12th position.
Aduana FC ended on a high, sealing a comfortable 3-1 win over newly promoted Basake Holy Stars.
Richard Tetteh gave the hosts a first-half lead, which was quickly canceled out by Francis Obeng.
However, second-half goals from Emmanuel Marfo (55′) and Alex Boakye (87′ pen) sealed the victory. Despite the defeat, Holy Stars managed to avoid relegation in their debut top-flight season.
Dreams FC shine, Young Apostles survive
Dreams FC closed out the season with a resounding 4-1 victory over relegated Legon Cities. Jonathan Nemorden netted twice, while Joseph Esso and Suraj Seidu added a goal apiece.
Albert Adomah scored a consolation for the Royals, whose relegation was confirmed prior to kickoff.
Elsewhere, Bechem United edged out Young Apostles 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Baba Moro Abdulai at the Nana Gyeabour Park.
Despite the defeat, the Apostles successfully retained their Premier League status after an encouraging debut campaign.
Sports
Hohoe United crowned Champions of Access Bank Division One League Zone 3
Hohoe United were officially crowned champions of the Access Bank Division One League Zone 3 after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Home Stars in a coronation match held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Hohoe Sports Complex.
The match, which featured all three goals in a pulsating first half, was a fitting finale to a remarkable season for the club.
The triumph marks a historic milestone for Hohoe United, who have now secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time since their rebranding from Liberty Professionals.
This long-awaited qualification comes in their third attempt following the club’s change of ownership and relocation from the capital to Hohoe.
The entire town of Hohoe has been swept up in celebration, a testament to the deep connection between the club and the local community. Festivities are expected to continue deep into the night as the town marks this significant achievement.
GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku presided over the official coronation ceremony, presenting medals and the championship trophy to the jubilant team. He was joined by Executive Council member Samuel Aboabire, club owner and former Member of Parliament for Hohoe, Hon. John Peter Amewu, as well as revered traditional leader Togbega Gabusu VII and Thomas Amewu-Duglu.
Hohoe United’s promotion signals the beginning of a promising new chapter in the Premier League, one that the people of Hohoe will embrace with pride and passion.
