PATH Ghana, GOC And Olympism365 Organise Multi-Stakeholder Meeting For NGOs And CBOs

PATH Ghana on Thursday April 18^th, 2024 hosted a Multi-Stakeholder Meeting at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra for Non Governmental Organisations and Community Based Organisations in the fields of Health and Sports.

Present were Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Ollie Dudfield Associate Director of Olympism365, Ms. Helen McGuire of PATH Global Program Lead, Ms. Patience Cofie Country Manager of PATH Ghana, Dr. Bella, Bello Bitugu Director of Sport at the University of Ghana, Dr. Wisdom Atowoto Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Health, Ms. Abibatu Bavug of UN Habitat, Alhaji Hafiz Adam, Chief Director MOH Mr. William Kartey Chief Director Ministry of Youth & Sports, Nana Adu Mankatta of Sports for All, Mr. Albert K. Frimpong of African Baseball and Ms. Patience Dapaah Snr. Advocacy and Communications Advisor, PATH.

The meeting attracted a number of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the education, sports and health sectors as well as media personnel with the objective of gathering information on Ghana’s national priorities, strategic plans and targets as they relate to physical activity/community-based sport and health.

They were also to raise awareness of the community sport and health cooperative Sport for Health Initiative in Ghana among diverse and relevant stakeholders, gather stakeholder input on the role of sport for health initiative towards achieving national priorities and targets and provide a forum for stakeholders to share their activities and assets that are aligned with the goals of the Sport for Health Initiative.

President of the GOC, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah in his presentation said it is refreshing news that, Ghana has been selected as one of the five countries to form the first phase of the newly initiated Community Sport and Health Cooperation between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with PATH as the implementers.

“As President of the Olympic Movement in Ghana, I am particularly excited about this initiative as it falls in line with the Olympic Values and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)3, which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” he said.

According to Mr. Mensah, the new collaboration between the IOC and PATH will increase access to health-enhancing community sport activities for over one million people across five countries by the year 2025.  And as a Ghanaian, I am very glad that this country was selected as one of the first five.

“As you may all know the global optimism for sport, as ‘an important enabler for the SDGs by the United Nations appears in many countries’ policy documents. In Ghana, sport is linked to the social dimension of the SDGs. But the acknowledgement of the potential of sport as an enabler alone cannot be a decisive evidence of deep commitment or successful implementation”.

He said the positive and direct effects of engaging in regular physical activity are noticeably apparent in the prevention of several chronic or Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis and depression.

According to him the Report from the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace states that young people can benefit from physical activity as it contributes to developing healthy bones, efficient heart, and lung function as well as improved motor skills and cognitive function.

He called for the need to encourage Sports and Health well-being inclusion in sports by developing the interest of the youth from the schools in their communities.

He observed that although the Ghana Education Service requires at least 80 minutes per week of physical education in schools, in practice, this is often not achieved.

“When children and youth fail to achieve the minimum recommended physical activity levels, they are at risk of adverse health consequences” he stressed.

He noted that according to the IOC, the new cooperation with WHO and PATH, will strengthen the role of sport in building healthy and active communities with three main objectives.

1. Improve access and retention in targeted community sports and physical activity programmes, thereby supporting more people, particularly women and girls and people from diverse backgrounds and abilities, to be more active.
2. Enhance knowledge, understanding of, and appreciation for, the multiple benefits of regular physical activity and sports participation, which will lead to the prevention of non-communicable diseases, improved mental health and well-being and social connections.
3. Strengthen policy planning and investment in community sport and physical activity participation opportunities and infrastructure as well as the physical activity legacies of the Olympic Games and other Global sport events.

He assured of the GOC’s support, and appealed to key-partners; Sports, Health, Education and Local Government to make a conscious effort to link these policies and programmes to the vision of Olympism 365.

 “Sports is a low-cost but very high-impact tool which we can all use to build together a more peaceful, more equal and more sustainable world for everyone, 365 days a year”

“If we can all use this low-cost, high-impact tool to eradicate poverty, end hunger, give good health and education, provide clean water, sanitation and energy, push for climate action, strive for peace, justice and build strong institutions, this world will be a much much better place for generations unborn” he added.

The Associate Director of Olympism365, Mr. Ollie Dudfield said “as leaders in the health sector, sports leaders, actors in the health sector must respond to the lifestyle if the challenge and must as well be focused on the health well being.”

Mr. Dudfield called on the entities involved in championing Olympism 365 to have a common agenda in prosecuting this initiative.

Ms. Patience Cofie, Country Manager of PATH Ghana said health is very important, and has been connected to various sectors including sports.

She said PATH Ghana focuses on strategic priorities in Ghana such as maternal health, malaria prevention, WASH, non communicable diseases, reproductive health, digital health supplies and health system innovations and delivery.

Dr. Bello Bitugu who gave the summary of the meeting said lifestyles are different and every community has its priorities, while people living in high class residential areas like Trasacco cannot be communicated with same as people living at Ga Mashie or Tudu, while the sporting needs also defer, but it is idle for everyone to be active.

Olympism365 is the IOC’s strategy to strengthen the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with Recommendation 10 of Olympic Agenda 2020+5.

The mission of PATH is to advance health equity through innovation and partnerships

By Sammy Heywood Okine

A contingent of 15 athletes and three officials have arrived in Abidjan, Cote D'voire for a 2 day Youth Invitational Athletics championships at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan.

Team Ghana made up of Under 20 years athletes drawn from Senior High Schools and athletic clubs across Ghana will come against Burkina Faso, Benin and the host, Cote D'voire in a 4-Nation Athletics event.

Ghana Athletics as part of building a new generation of future champions in track and field, invested to participate in the 4-nation event in creating competitions for our budding athletes and future champions.

Chief Executive of Ghana Athletics, Phillipina Frimpong says Ghana has begun the preparation for tomorrow today and calls on corporate Ghana to invest in track and field athletes before the maturity stage.

Ghana competes in 100m Boys & Girls, 200 Boys & Girls, 800m Boys, 110 Hurdles Men 400m Hurdles Boys, High Jump Boys, the relays for Boys & Girls etc. at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny on Friday and Saturday.

It will be recalled that Ghana in 2023 competed and dominated the Africa Junior Championship in Gambia using athletes from the Senior High Schools.

Team Ghana returns home on Sunday after the 2 day championship.

Source : www.ghanaathletics.org

The Eiffel Tower 

With less than 100 days until the Paris 2024 Olympics begins, here is a guide to everything you need to know about the Games.

80% of the competition venues will take place within 10km of the Olympic village

Team Ghana had one bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games by young boxer, Samuel Takyi, then 21.

Tokyo 2020 was postponed by a year because of the Covid pandemic but now, three years later with the crowds back to fill the stands, what can we expect from Paris 2024?

How is Paris preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics?

When are the Olympics?    

Although the opening ceremony to signal the official start of the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held on Friday, 26 July, the sporting action actually begins on Wednesday, 24 July with pool matches in football, rugby sevens, handball and archery. The Games will run until 11 August.

Which venues are being used for the Olympics?

Most of the sporting events are in and around the heart of Paris, and the opening ceremony is set to be a spectacle, taking place along the Seine, the first time in Olympic history that the event will be held outside the main stadium.

The Stade de France will host the athletics and the closing ceremony. The Parc des Princes, home to Paris St-Germain, will stage football matches, and Roland Garros will host tennis and boxing. Surfing will take place in Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia nearly 10,000 miles away from Paris.

Some 95% of the venues already exist or are temporary, with the aquatics centre being the only new venue specifically built for the Games.

How can I watch the Olympics?

The Paris Olympics will be shown live on GTV television and other website and apps, and there will also be extensive coverage on the Olympic Channel.        

What are the new sports at the Paris Games?

The only sport making its debut in Paris is breaking. It was first introduced at the 2018 Youth Olympics and due to the combination of athleticism and urban dance, it has secured a spot on the programme.

The competition will take place as solo battles and the breakers will improvise to the DJ's tracks, including moves such as windmills, the six step and freezes.

Karate and baseball have been dropped from the Olympics since Tokyo 2020.

How many gold medals will be won in Paris and how many sports are at the Olympics?

There are 329 medal events across 32 sports. The first medal is set to be awarded in shooting on 27 July and the final medal event of Paris 2024 will be women's basketball on 11 August.

Can Ghana win a medal?

In sports anything can happen. Nobody knew featherweight Samuel Takyi will win a medal for Ghana at Tokyo 2020 as he was the youngest and inexperienced boxer in the team, but he brought glory and joy after many years. For the records Ghana has won only five medals at the Olympic Games,one bronze in football and the rest in boxing including one silver by Clement Quartey at the 1960 Rome  Boxing Men's light welterweight.

The others are Bronze by Eddie Blay at the 1964 Tokyo Games in Boxing Men's light welterweight, Bronze by Prince Amartey at 1972 Munich in Boxing Men's middleweight

Will there be prize money at the Olympics?

World Athletics has announced it will become the first international federation to award prize money at the Olympic Games.

The global governing body said a total prize pot of $2.4m (£1.9m) has been made available for this summer's Olympics in Paris, with gold medallists receiving $50,000 (£39,400).

Is Russia banned from competing in the Olympics?

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete as neutral athletes. They will not take part in the opening ceremony at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, says the International Olympic Committee.

Russia & Belarus athletes will not be part of opening ceremony

Who is competing for Team Ghana and how many medals could they win?

Ghana first participated at the Olympic Games in 1952

So far, not easy nut for Swimming, the nation will provide two swimmers on wild card.

In Track & Field, the 100x4 team is among the best 16 in the world and may make it. In High Jump, Rose Yeboah looks good to go with her accumulated points and recent performaces especially at the 13th African Games where she won gold.

Other athletes like Cadman, High Jump, Joe Paul Amoah, 2000m and Benjamin Azamati, 100m and others must ran at meets certified by the IOC to qualify.

Ghana lost in football as both the male and female teams crushed out sadly. The hope of the nation is Boxing, but none qualified at the African Qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal and the World Qualifier in Italy.

The last and final hope is coming up in May in Bangkok, Thailand where 12 boxers are going to try to make history.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

# Multi-Stakeholder Meeting On Sport, Physical Activity And Health

@Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra. Thursday, April 18, 2024

Mr. Chairman

Associate Director, Olympism 365, Mr. Ollie Dudfield

UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Olwen Byrne

Mrs. Hilda Opoku from the UN Habitat

Chief Director MOH, Alhaji Hafiz Adam

Chief Director MOYs, Mr. William Kartey

Dr. Kuma Aboagye, DG-Ghana Health Service

Dr. Patience Cofie, Country Manager PATH

Md. Helen McGuire, PATH GLOBAL Office

Representatives from various stakeholders

Friends from the media

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is such a refreshing news to know that, Ghana has been selected as one of the five countries to form the first phase of the newly initiated Community Sport and Health Cooperation between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with PATH as the implementers.

As President of the Olympic Movement in Ghana, I am particularly excited about this initiative as it falls in line with the Olympic Values and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)3, which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

This new collaboration between the IOC and PATH will increase access to health-enhancing community sport activities for over one million people across five countries by the year 2025.  And as a Ghanaian, I am very glad that this country was selected as one of the first five.

As you may all know the global optimism for sport, as ‘an important enabler for the SDGs by the United Nations appears in many countries’ policy documents. In Ghana, sport is linked to the social dimension of the SDGs. But the acknowledgement of the potential of sport as an enabler alone cannot be a decisive evidence of deep commitment or successful implementation.

According to the Association of People for Practical Life Education (APPLE), There is an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence on the positive effects of sport, physical activity and active recreation as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The positive and direct effects of engaging in regular physical activity are noticeably apparent in the prevention of several chronic or Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis and depression.

The Report from the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace states that young people can benefit from physical activity as it contributes to developing healthy bones, efficient heart, and lung function as well as improved motor skills and cognitive function.

Therefore, there is the need to encourage Sports and Health well-being inclusion in sports by developing the interest of the youth from the schools in their communities.

Reports from Ghana’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth recommended that children between the ages 5 to 17 years should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.

However, there is very limited empirical evidence on how much physical activity Ghanaian children and youth engage in.

Although the Ghana Education Service requires at least 80 minutes per week of physical education in schools, in practice, this is often not achieved.

When children and youth fail to achieve the minimum recommended physical activity levels, they are at risk of adverse health consequences.

Mr Chairman, according to the IOC, the new cooperation with WHO and PATH, will strengthen the role of sport in building healthy and active communities with three main objectives.

1. Improve access and retention in targeted community sports and physical activity programmes, thereby supporting more people, particularly women and girls and people from diverse backgrounds and abilities, to be more active.
2. Enhance knowledge, understanding of, and appreciation for, the multiple benefits of regular physical activity and sports participation, which will lead to the prevention of non-communicable diseases, improved mental health and well-being and social connections.
3. Strengthen policy planning and investment in community sport and physical activity participation opportunities and infrastructure as well as the physical activity legacies of the Olympic Games and other Global sport events.

The Ghana Olympic Committee will join and support the full implementation of all the action plans that will be drawn from today’s stakeholder’s engagement.

To our four key Partner-Ministries, that is Sports, Health, Education and Local Government, I want to make a passionate appeal, that in drawing up your various policies and programmes, please make a conscious effort to link these policies and programmes to the vision of Olympism 365.

 “Sports is a low-cost but very high-impact tool which we can all use to build together a more peaceful, more equal and more sustainable world for everyone, 365 days a year”

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, at this juncture I present to you ‘Olympism 365’                (VIDEO)

If we can all use this low-cost, high-impact tool to eradicate poverty, end hunger, give good health and education, provide clean water, sanitation and energy, push for climate action, strive for peace, justice and build strong institutions, this world will be a much much better place for generations unborn.

Thank you.

The Board of the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana has set 20th April 2024 for its Extraordinary General Assembly to engage with members with the following agenda after it has earlier postponed the event twice 30th November, 2023 and 2nd February 2024 to allow its members to contribute to the organization of the just ended 13th African Games.

NOTICE OF AND INVITATION TO ATTEND THE 2024 NPC GHANA EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY (EGA)

Agenda of the Meeting (EGA)

1. Consideration for approval of Annual Membership Fees
2. Consideration for approval of New Para Sports and their respective Federations/Associations;

iii.      Amendments to Article 2 Membership: Sections 1 to 5

7. Date for Elective General Assembly per Article 7. 1(ii) and 6(ii)

The NPC Ghana further announced members are requested to nominate and send two (2) delegates, one (1) with voting right in reply to the notice and invitation and must be received by the NPC Ghana by not later than 5:00PM local time on Wednesday 17th April 2024.

The media are hereby to apply for accreditation through the official email of the secretariat: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

THE MEMBERS GTO PARTICIPATE IN THE EGA THROUGH A DISTRIBUTION ARE LISTED:

1. Para Athletics,
2. Para Powerlifting,
3. Sitting Volleyball / Para Volleyball
4. Shooting Para Sports,
5. Para Swimming,
6. Wheelchair Basketball,
7. Para Badminton,
8. Para Taekwondo,
9. Para Cycling Federation,
10. Wheelchair Tennis,
11. Blind Sports Federation,
12. Cerebral Palsy Sports,
13. Blind Football,
14. Adaptive Boxing,
15. Boccia Sports,
16. Para Biathlon,
17. Wheelchair Rugby,
18. Para Archery
19. Wheelchair Softball
20. National Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Assoc. of Ghana
21. Amputee Football Association of Ghana
22. Para Table Tenis

Source NPC

President of the United Boxing Coaches Association of Ghana Mr. Charles Quartey and his first Vice President Mr. Lawrence Carl Lokko have spoken about the way forward for Ghana boxing, especially on the contribution of coaches and the game upliftment of boxers.

In an exclusive interview with Mr. Nat Attoh of Joy Sports, the president said, over the years they have seen boxers from various clubs moving to different clubs whenever they feel like, or if a little misunderstanding rises between the boxer and his coach which is very sad to say,

He said whenever such thing occurs it happens the coach looses totally because it is not easy to train and build up a boxer from the amateur level to professional and he just moves into a new club, which is unlike football, because when you move there is a percentage the new club will pay before you move, known as transfer fees.

“We want the best of relationship between boxers and their coaches and it’s high time we start that now to have a united front, I have dedicated myself and my arms are widely open to advice the young and upcoming coaches also with my knowledge to help project Ghana boxing to the next level because it’s the same sports that has made us who we are today” said Lawrence Carl Lokko of the Bronx Gym.

“We have put in place all necessary requirements to register every boxer in every Gym so we can have a fair treatment between boxers and their trainers” he added.

The host of Joy Prime show Mr. Nathaniel Attoh asked the coaches about their relationship between the GBA, GBF and the media which Mr. Charles Quartey answered that was smooth relationship, however they will sit with them to see the way forward for a better future.

By Augustus Dodoo

Ghana players made their arrival to the stadiums at Qatar 2022 in style with their traditional musical instruments

The Ghanaian traditional musical instrument, the ‘Dondo’, has made its way into the collections of the FIFA Museum.

The world football governing body, FIFA, revealed in a social media post that the drum used by the Black Stars for their ‘jama’ sessions at training and en route to their changing rooms during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The musical instrument, ‘Dondo’, will be on display at the FIFA Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.

Source: Sammy Heywood Okine

The Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium at Tamale will host the first event of the 11th edition of the GNPC Ghana Fastest Human on May 11.

The 100 meters dash clash is for boys and girls, under 15, under 18 and adults over 18 years.

The competition moves to Cape Coast Stadium on May 25, then Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium on June 15 and climax at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra on June 29.

Three icons in sprints, Ohene Karikari, Oko Addy and Mike Ahey are the living inspiration to young athletes. They were recognized at the lunch of the 2024 edition of the GNPC Ghana Fastest Human last Monday.

Hon Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth & Sports who launch the Olympic year edition  prayed that more athletes will qualify for the Olympic Games. He acknowledged the contribution of the GNPC Ghana Fastest Human in developing athletes as some took part in the last Games.

Dr. Kwame Baah Nuakoh, GM Strategy & Investments of GNPC said track & field is the passion of many Ghanaians and that justifies the company's support in discovering and nurturing talents, most of whom become international stars. He suggested the promotion of sports at the tertiary level.

Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary of the President of Ghana also appreciated the involvement of the private sector in sports talent discovery and harnessing.

Director General of the National Sports Authority Mr. Dodzie Numekevor assured the GFH organisers of providing the facilities and staff for a successful event.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Caleb Mensah and Jacob Thompson dominate first-ever E-Boxing Game at Decathlon Kawukudi

Caleb Mensah, captain of the national juvenile boxing team and Jacob Thompson from the Wisdom Boxing Gym in Accra won big in E- Boxing at Decathlon Kawukudi to commemorate the Salafest Boxing Gala.

The event was watched by a good crowd including diplomats. It was very interesting to see champions battle digitally and later wating future champions in the ring.

The Wisdom Boxing Gym and Promotions must be commended for the show as E- Sports in becoming very popular in recent times.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian Boxing Experts Condemn Judges Decision On UBO Bout At Salafest Boxing Gala 2024

Most Ghanaians especially Boxing experts and lovers of the sport have come out to condemn the results of the UBO Light Heavyweight Championship between Ghana's experienced Bastie Samir and Student of the game, Rasheed Idowu of Nigeria on April 13 which was declared a Technical Draw and later awarded to the man from Ibadan.

Former President of the Ghana Boxing Authority, Lawyer Peter Zwennes said he never saw any illegal punch as informed by the organisers, then he expressed that it is not fair because the continent must have worthy champions like Idowu who really exhibited good sportsmanship.

"How can this be declared a technical draw? Which foul did the Nigerian Boxer commit? For years we have been complaining about the horrible decisions against our Boxers in Nigerian rings. Are we trying to do the same thing here?" he asked.

Mr. Augustus Dodoo an executive member of the United Boxing Coaches Association of Ghana blamed the half baked referees and Judges involved in international bout.

He called for the use of credible and experienced officials like Roger Barnor and Erasmus Owoo.

"I don't know why they made it a draw, because it was a knockout, Ghana boxers have to step up their game because Nigerian's are now far ahead of us now in terms of boxing and it's funny how we handing things now" he expressed.

Former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana SWAG, Maurice Quansah said Bastie was not fit and conditioned for the bout.

"We can all watch a playback of the fight. In all honesty, this was a very shameful decision. Even before the knockout, I noticed that anytime Bastie Samir was in trouble the referee stepped in to warn the Nigerian boxer for whatever reason I cannot tell. It only allowed time for Bastie to recover even though he was not in good shape and the Nigerian outclassed him throughout the fight" said the Editor of Graphic Sports

Nii Oto Bruce Tagoe, a Boxing Photographer at the ring side said Bastie lost clean and clear because he was floored nicely and timely and could not even control himself going into the ropes.

Sammy Ofosuhene of Boxing Ghana said "Agreed. Bastie was a stamina suspect throughout the fight. He was a shadow of his old self. Perhaps age is catching up with him as well. And you are RIGHT....The decision was simply unacceptable".

Ace Sports Journalist, Sammy Heywood Okine, President of Boxing Writers Association of Ghana (BWAG) said it is sad and a bad day for Ghana Boxing. "Yes it's a sad day because Bastie Samir is one of our admired boxers, but he looked not prepared physically for the fight and the way he went down was predicted." he said.

Karimu King, a former boxer, now coaching in Italy said it was a stolen verdict because everyone saw that Rasheed Idowu won. He stressed that Bastie need to go back to the gym to correct his mistake.

Many people blamed the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) for not declaring the winner, since it was clear that Bastie was knocked down clearly in round two and even went out of the ropes.

President of the GBA, Mr. Abraham Neequaye who said Ghanaians talk too much, later came to explain they took the decision due to security reasons to save lives, because of the peeved fans. He noted that the officials and organisers were in danger, so he had to think outside the box to make it a Technical Draw and consult the UBO..

The GBA later wrote a letter to the UBO to rectify the result.

Officials of the UBO watched the bout and condemned the Technical Draw decision. They gave the verdict to Rasheed Idowu, declaring him as the legitimate UBO Africa Light Heavyweight "Since we cant see that Mr. Rasheed did anything wrong" . According to UBO, the winner was a victim of blatant injustice after he put on an amazing performance, "we feel it is only right that Mr. Rasheed is recognized as the UBO Africa Light Heavyweight champion".

"It is human to make mistakes, and we are glad that the Ghana Boxing Authority has reportedly made the right decision in regards to the official result, and will report this accordingly to all record-keepers and other relevant parties".

OFFICIAL UBO RULING: Idowu Rasheed is recognized as the Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Africa Light Heavyweight champion!

Source Friends of Boxing