Hot!
We just cannot miss CHAN again!
• Annor Walker – Coach, Black Galaxies
In the next couple of weeks, Ghana’s locally-assembled players, now known as the Black Galaxies (formerly Local Black Stars), will swing into action with qualification to the 2023 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament to be held in Algeria sturdily embossed on their minds.
The Championship for African Nations (CHAN), is strictly reserved for players campaigning at the domestic front; a tournament that is progressively growing in popularity since its inception in 2009.
The Galaxies are expected to face Benin in a two-legged game starting July 27 this month at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium – with the aggregate winner facing off with Nigeria for a place in Algeria 2023.
Idea behind the creation of CHAN is to afford homegrown players the opportunity to represent their countries as well as promoting their domestic leagues globally.
The first country to win the CHAN trophy was the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo who upstaged the Black Galaxies 2-0 in an absorbing ‘grand finale of revenge,’ hosted by Côte d’Ivoire.
The Ghanaians, then coached by Maxwell Konadu, had dazzled the Congolese at the group stage before baking them 3-0. That invigorating performance was enough to see all dashing in favour of the previously known Local Black Stars team, in spite of the wizardry of DR Congo’s Tresor Mputu Mabi.
Wrong! What was generally expected to be an encore for the Galaxies in the final, turned out to be a disappointing show of anguish as two second half strikes from Kaluyituka Dioko and Mbenza Bedi sounded the death knell for Ghana.
Nonetheless, on the back of that scintillating outing, experts of the continental game tipped the Galaxies to make amends two years later by lifting the Holy Grail. This time again, wrong! At the 2011 edition, the team was shamefully flushed out at the group stage, but managed to bounce back in 2014 for another silver medal spot after losing to Libya, via the lottery of shoot-out.
Ever since, there has been failure upon failure to the chagrin of fans who attribute the slump to poor selection and inadequate preparations. In fact, since the South Africa tournament in 2014, the Galaxies are yet to qualify for the CHAN biennial event – failing to respond to the roll call in 2016, 2018 and 2020.
For a country that prides itself as one of the powerhouses of the continental game, it was shameful and discomforting to see this damning droop.
With the Black Starlets (national Under-17 boys team), Black Satellites (national Under-20 male team), the Black Maidens (national women Under-17 team), and the Black Queens (senior national women’s team) – all failing to qualify for their respective campaigns, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) must stretch every sinew left in them to ensure the Galaxies pick a spot in Algeria 2023, this time around.
Failing to qualify for the CHAN tournament for the fourth time in succession would be too much a bitter pill for the nation to bear.
This is also why sweat merchant of the Galaxies – Annor Walker, must invite the right kind of materials capable of not only qualifying, but making waves at the tournament. Walker’s deputy – Prosper Nartey Ogum, is a bundle of quality, spearheading Kumasi Asante Kotoko to Ghana Premier League (GPL) success in the just-ended season. He must be able to combine efficiently with Walker to produce an inspiring result in the qualifiers as they search for the nation’s CHAN ticket in eight years.
Truth is that the battle is going to be a tough, energy-sapping engagement – especially when Nigeria is lying on the way, composedly waiting for the Ghana v Benin winner to slug things out.
One, therefore, does not need to remind the GFA and the technical team of the Galaxies to gird their loins for the Himalayan task ahead.
We want to see players who, aside from their superlative quality, would be prepared to die for the result on the pitch rather than give up!
PlainTalk With John Vigah
The Dzidula Pink Foundation, a new organisation dedicated to cancer awareness, early detection, and patient support, has been officially launched in Accra, with a passionate call for national commitment to fighting the disease. The launch event, held last week Friday, carried the theme: “Beyond the diagnosis: A future of restoration, care and courage.”
Speaking at the event, Madam Abena Brigidi, founder and CEO of Nimed Capital Limited, emphasised that cancer remains one of the most devastating health challenges facing families across the country. “Cancer does not discriminate—it affects mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons. It drains families emotionally and financially, and behind every statistic is a human story and a future suddenly thrown into uncertainty,” she said.
Sharing her personal encounters with cancer, having lost both her husband and father to the disease, Madam Brigidi highlighted the emotional, financial, and physical scars left behind. “I stand here not just as a speaker, but as a witness to what cancer can take away,” she stated. “I have watched loved ones fight bravely, and I have felt the deep pain that loss leaves behind.”
She stressed that awareness and early detection are critical to reducing deaths, noting that many Ghanaians still lack access to proper screening, reliable information, and adequate treatment. She appealed to healthcare professionals, corporate institutions, policymakers, the media, and the general public to join hands in the fight. “Early detection saves lives. Your support today can lead to someone’s healing tomorrow,” she said.
Madam Brigidi further called for collective responsibility to sustain the foundation’s mission. “To our medical professionals, we need your expertise. To corporate partners, your resources. To the media, your voice. To policymakers, your support. And to the public, your compassion,” she urged. She also insisted that breast cancer awareness should not be limited to annual campaigns, saying, “Breast cancer awareness must not be seasonal.”
Mrs Diana Fafa Gozo, founder of the Dzidula Pink Foundation, shared her own cancer journey, describing the shock of diagnosis, the fear that followed, and the difficult path through treatment. Her experience transformed her pain into purpose and inspired her to create a foundation to ensure no cancer patient walks alone.
Mrs Gozo explained that many patients struggle not only with treatment costs but also with emotional resilience. She outlined the foundation’s initiatives, which include awareness and early detection campaigns, patient support funds, community outreach, and survival support circles. “This foundation is my offering of gratitude, courage, and compassion and a reminder that no one should walk the cancer journey alone,” she concluded.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) says it will deploy teams of Public Health Officers, members of its Sanitation Taskforce, and labourers, including sweepers and janitors, across all sub-metros to support the third National Sanitation Day exercise.
It explained that these teams will be equipped with waste collection trucks, tippers, and other tools to help with desilting, refuse collection, and transporting waste to approved disposal sites.
The AMA reminded residents that failing to comply with the sanitation directive or refusing to participate in communal labour is an offence.
It said offenders risk a fine of up to 100 penalty units, imprisonment between 30 days and six months, or both, with repeat offenders liable to additional daily penalties.
It urged all residents, traders, transport operators, market women, shop owners, landlords, tenants, and businesses to actively participate in the exercise.
The AMA said it counts on everyone’s collective responsibility to keep Accra clean, liveable, and resilient, especially as the city approaches Christmas and the New Year.
By: Jacob Aggrey
