News
Sports must thrive in 2025
Failures on the sports front in 2024 could force fans to be apathetic in the New Year in order to avoid the disappointments they endured.
There were discontents all over as Ghana failed to make an impact at global events like the Paris Olympic Games, athletics championships, boxing championships and qualifiers and many others.
What may trigger some interest could be the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers set to continue this year.
The FIFA World Cup has a strong appeal capable of turning apathy into a strong feeling and sensitivity to possibly bring the fans back to support the Black Stars bid to qualify.
But in doing so, the performances of the Black Stars have always come to hunt their followers and it remains one thing Coach Otto Addo and his men must resolve to earn the trust of Ghanaians.
The Black Stars occupy the second spot in Group I of the African qualifying for the World Cup behind Comoros on the same points but on inferior goal aggregate.
Against Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Madagascar and Comoros, Ghana face a stern battle for the sole ticket allotted the group.
That would definitely not be an easy task but it is also not a challenge above the Stars. When the right players, those committed and dedicated to the Ghana course are selected, Ghana can make it.
The lenses would also be on other sports disciplines that held so much promise but failed to deliver.
Amateur boxing would be one that would attract a lot of attention after failing to excel at the various championships and qualifiers, resulting in the ‘no-show’ of the Black Bombers at the Paris Olympics Games.
Professional boxing, managed by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) supervised a number of entertaining bouts with a number of boxers including John Laryea showing so much promise as world champions.
The GBA, however, was always in the spotlight with legal battles with its stakeholders over enforcement of its own rules.
The controversies with promotions and inadequate security at its fight nights have not made events safe for a lot more patrons although it attracted some new promoters in the year under review.
The year 2025 should offer its President, Abraham Kotey Neequaye, his board and major stakeholders the platform to end the constant fights, respect the rules and work together to produce new world champions and eventually ensure some sanity in the sport.
Athletics gave a good account of themselves but failed at the biggest stage – Olympic Games with the relay teams showing that they were yet to recover from their baton exchange nightmare.
Bawa Fuseini, Charles Osei Asibey, Philipina Frimpong and the other managers of athletics in Ghana must therefore, strive to take the spot a notch higher despite the challenges.
Aside the aforementioned disciplines, there are over 40 disciplines that clearly did their very best to make an impact but failed due to many challenges including finance. There were those who just added to the numbers.
But in the year 2025, every federation must aim to make a difference on the sports scene for the sector to thrive.
THE Founder of the Dzidula Pink Foundation, Mrs Fafa Gozo, has called for urgent collective action to end cervical cancer, describing the disease as both a major public health threat and one of the most preventable cancers affecting women.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra after celebrating Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January, Mrs Gozo stressed that the fight against cervical cancer should move beyond awareness to concrete action.
Highlighting the burden of the disease in Africa, Mrs Gozo noted that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women on the continent, despite being largely preventable through early detection and timely treatment.
“With regular screening, precancerous changes can be detected early. With timely treatment, lives can be saved. And with collective effort, we can defeat cervical cancer as a public health threat,” the address stated.
Mrs Gozo who is also a breast cancer survivor said the tragedy was not the existence of cervical cancer, but the persistent barriers that deny many women access to information, screening services and treatment.
“The tragedy is that too many women are denied the knowledge, tools and care that could save them,” she said, calling on government agencies, health professionals, civil society and the private sector to work together to close the gaps.
She explained the foundation was established to merge advocacy with creativity, and healing with hope adding that through its work, the foundation seeks to empower women and girls through education, wellness initiatives and creative entrepreneurship, while tackling stigma surrounding women’s health.
She said as part of creating awareness of the disease, her foundation will roll out a series of programmes including free and accessible screening campaigns, survivor testimonies to inspire courage, community education to dismantle myths and stigma, and strategic partnerships to expand access to treatment.
“We are not here to simply raise awareness; we are here to change outcomes,” Mrs Gozo emphasised.
She expressed gratitude to volunteers, medical professionals, sponsors and community leaders who continue to support the Foundation’s mission, describing them as “the lifeblood of this movement.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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AS Valentine’s Day is marked around the world with flowers, gifts and romantic gestures, a marriage counsellor has encouraged Ghanaians to move beyond the commercial celebration and reflect on the deeper meaning of love rooted in faith.
Speaking to The Spectator, Counsellor Prince Offei, who is also a mental health professional and a Reverend Minister, said Valentine’s Day has strong Christian origins that were often ignored in contemporary celebrations.
He explained that the day was linked to Saint Valentine, a third-century Christian priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage by secretly officiating weddings for young couples. Saint Valentine was later arrested and executed for his actions.
“Saint Valentine stood for love, commitment and marriage, even at the cost of his life; that legacy is what inspired the celebration of love that we now know as Valentine’s Day,” Counsellor Offei said.
He noted that the celebration remains relevant to Christianity when approached from a spiritual perspective.
“As Christians, Valentine’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect on God’s unconditional love for humanity,” he said, citing 1 John 4:19, which states that love originates from God.
“When love, kindness and generosity are at the centre, the celebration aligns with Christian values.”
Addressing debates over the origins of Valentine’s Day, Counsellor Offei mentioned that the modern observance can be redeemed when believers focus on demonstrating Christ-like love.
“We can use the day to strengthen relationships, share scripture and show love in practical ways,” he said, referencing John 13:34, which urges believers to love one another as Christ loved them.
On how the day should be observed, Counsellor Offei stressed that Valentine’s Day is not limited to romantic relationships.
“For singles, it can be a time to practise self-love and appreciate family and friendships,” he said, adding that for couples who are dating, it is an opportunity to deepen understanding, while married couples can use the day to reconnect and renew their commitment.
He also encouraged acts of service, noting that showing compassion to those in need reflects the true spirit of love.
However, the counsellor expressed concern over the growing association of Valentine’s Day with promiscuity.
“It is worrying when the day is used to justify immoral behaviour,” he said. “Christian teachings emphasise that sexual intimacy is sacred and meant for marriage. When this is ignored and misused, it often leads to emotional and psychological harm,” he added.
Counsellor Offei urged Christians, particularly the youth, to resist societal pressure and remain grounded in faith.
“Young people should remember that true love is rooted in God’s love,” he said. “Social media trends should not define their worth or relationships. Scripture and godly counsel remain the best guides.”
He called on Christians to use Valentine’s Day as a reminder of love that is sacrificial, responsible and reflective of God’s nature.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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