Minister of youth & Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif has declared that Ghana will host and organize the most successful African Games in 2023.

Speaking at the inauguration and swearing in of seven Sub Committees of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) ahead of 13th African Games dubbed  ‘Accra 2023’ he expressed that the Protocol Agreement which empowers the host nation has been signed between Ghana and the African Union (AU), while the Technical Committee and other Sub Committees are being formed, while three contractors are on the sites for the Games at Legon Campus, the Games Village and Borteyman where new sports facilities are coming up.

Hon. Ussif noted that the contractors have been given one year to finish the $145 million project which would be turned into a University of Sports Development after the Games dubbed ‘Accra 2023’.

The seven sub committees; Marketing & Sponsorship, Media, Finance & Ticketing, Medical & Anti Doping, Legal, Legacy and Technical members took the oaths of office and secrecy.

Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare, Executive Chairman of the LOC introduced the members of the Committee that was launched by the President of Ghana, HE Nana Akufo-Addo on 12^th October 2020.

He expressed that with the signing of the Protocol Agreement, Ghana can now go ahead to plan and prepare for the Games.

He thanked the President, Cabinet, Parliament, the Attorney-General's Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliamentary Sub Committee on Youth & Sports.

“Government is committed to host the Games, and we want the media to support us, and also criticize us constructively for us to do the right things” he stressed.

He hinted that the LOC will embark on a regional tour to create more awareness to involve all Ghanaians.

“The LOC will deliver in 2023, Ghana will deliver, It is my Games, Your Games and Our Games” he added. 

Captain (Rtd) Andy Sam, chairman of the Finance Sub Committee on behalf of the Committees members delivered an acceptance speech.

He was optimistic Ghana will give Africa one of the best ever sporting festivals.

Potbelly Shack refreshed guests after the programme.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Sepak Takraw Ghana Association unveils equipment at GOC

Executives of Sepak Takraw Ghana Association on Wednesday unveiled some of the equipment they use for the sport at office of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).

The executives made up of Samuel Asubonteng - president, Emmanuel Akpabli - vice president, George Acheampong - secretary, Theo Akpabli - media relations officer, Jonathan Gyandu - technical advisor and Ernest Ross - media relations advisor were at the GOC to present their equipment to the officers.

They met the operations manager, Shaban Mohammed and media officer, Sammy Heywood Okine.

Mr. George Acheampong, secretary of the young sports federation said they want to affiliate with the GOC and promote the sport which involves three players on a side kicking a plastic ball over a net.

He said Ghana is currently the only African country, however there are 45 nations in the world body, naming Singapore, Thailand, China, Indonesia, India, Canada, USA, Italy and others.

President Samuel Asubonteng said the game is a blend of volleyball and football is interesting, and they want to promote it in the schools and communities.

He expressed that they are trying to add the sport to football, boxing and athletics so that Ghanaians will have variety of disciplines to chose from as a sports or leisure activity.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Abossey Okai versus Kokompe Tug of War sporting event comes off on Saturday, 4th December, 2021 at the Fadama AstroTurf at 6:00pm.

Dreamland Sports Plus, the organisers are preparing fevishly and putting all items together for a successful event.

According to Communications Manager, Miss Sarah Awini they have secured all prizes to be at stake, such as medals, the giants trophy and products from sponsors.

She named the sponsors as 8pm, Freedom Beer, Bavaria and Parle, hoping that others who love entertainment and sports will come on board.

Secretary General of the Ghana Tug of War Association, Mr William Ocansey revealed that eight strong teams will take part in the competition to see is the best to meet other suburbs of the capital.

“We had a great event at Bukom, and we want to repeat and make people have much fun. This year we have begun on a healthy note and pray that we shall have a better event, after a successful trophy tour” he expressed.

The giant trophy was received by Tsatsu Hadjor of Kasapreko Company Ltd. and Ravi Soni of Deexim company Ltd, producers of Bavaria as well as Mr. Isaac Van- Edson Tsatsu Hadjor, Trade Marketing & Activation who had opportunity to observe the trophy tour and hoped that the best teams will win.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana was awarded the Games in October 2018, but doubts had emerged over whether the nation would remain host of the event.

The nation’s Sports Ministry sought to quash rumours in June that Ghana would lose hosting rights, declaring that the Government was committed to putting infrastructure in place for the Games.

Organising Committee chair Kwaku Ofosu-Asare has now confirmed a protocol agreement has been signed with the event’s owner, the AU.

The agreement should end doubts over Ghana’s hosting.

He said preparations had already been ongoing prior to the agreement being signed.

"Without the protocol agreement, it is practically impossible for Ghana to host the Games," Ofosu-Asare said.

“We had to go back and forth to get it signed.

“We are happy it has finally been endorsed for us to go ahead with the plans to host the Games.

"Though work has started already, the door is now open for the greater works to commence as Ghana is set to make a mark with hosting the African Games."

Ofosu -Asare said a creative identity manual has been approved by the AU alongside the protocol.

This will lead to organisers unveiling the Games logo, mascot and branding.

Ghanian President Nana Akufo-Addo will reportedly participate in the launch of the mascot and logo.

Akufo-Addo had shown his support for the event in September by launching the construction of a $145 million (£105 million/€122 million) sports complex being built for the event.

The main feature of the complex at Borteyman will be a 1,000-capacity aquatics centre, featuring a 10-lane competition pool and eight-lane warm-up pool.

A multi-purpose sports hall with a capacity of 10,000 will also be built and used to stage badminton, basketball, boxing, table tennis and weightlifting, along with a 500-seat temporary dome to host handball, judo, karate, taekwondo and volleyball.

A tennis centre with five courts, including a 1,000-capacity centre court, a six-lane warm up athletics track, and a FIFA-standard football training field are also due to be included as part of the new complex.

The African Games is set to be held in three cities in Ghana.

Events are due to be staged in the capital city Accra, as well as Kumasi and Cape Coast.

Ghana will host the Games for the first time, with the multi-sport event now in its 13th edition.

The 12th African Games took place in Morocco’s capital city Rabat in 2019.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 13th African Games, Accra 2023, will on Thursday, November 25, 2021 launch seven of 17 Subcommittees at the Hathiramani Hall at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif will perform the launching programme.

After the  launching of the Subcommittees, the LOC will outdoor the Logo, Mascot and official website of the African Games to the entire world.on December 14, this year.

The unveiling of the Logo and Mascot will be done by President Akufo-Addo.

After the unveiling of the Logo and Mascot, the LOC will roll out its programmes to ensure visibility and presence of the Games all over the country and elsewhere.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given Accra Hearts of Oak a 1 million cedi boost to support their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

Graphic Online's Donald Ato Dapatem reports that the President announced this when the Board of Directors of Hearts paid a courtesy call on him Tuesday [Nov 23] at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The Phobians will get their Confederation Cup campaign underway on Sunday, November 28, 2021, in Accra against Algerian side Jeunesse Sportive de la Saoura ((JS Saoura) in a play-off to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

The return leg is scheduled for December 5, 2021, in Algeria.

Hearts were drawn against JS Saoura after they crashed out of the CAF Champions League at the second qualifying round against Moroccan side Wydad Athletic Club.

The Ghana Premier League champions were walloped 6-2 on aggregate following a 6-1 mauling in Casablanca.

Ghana Oil Company (GOIL), the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) and Betboro Ghana have partnered the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) for 46th edition of the MTN SWAG Awards.

GOIL, the country’s leading indigenous oil marketing company, is supporting the awards night with cash and fuel coupons while the Ghana Free Zones Authority is supporting the event with an undisclosed amount.

Making the presentation, the Managing Director for GOIL, K. Osei-Prempeh, said: “Over the last years, GOIL has been assisting the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) with financial and other support aimed at improving sports development and promotion.”

He also congratulated SWAG for consistently recognising and rewarding the hard work of sporting men and women and individuals who distinguished themselves in their various sporting disciplines.

“Sponsoring SWAG is an honour because they have over the years put in much effort to help recognise sports men and women and we have been proud to be associated with them over the years and we know it would continue for years to come,” he noted.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GFZA, Mike Ocquaye Jnr., said sports is the only universal language that unites us as a country, therefore they are privileged to support SWAG to honour deserving athletes for their hard work.

“We know that one of the areas to significantly contribute to the development of talents is supporting and sponsoring those sports men and women who have worked tirelessly over the years and by so doing we are helping SWAG in making that a reality,” he added.

According to the head of Marketing at Betboro Ghana, Madam Rosemary Tetteh, partnering the SWAG Awards is one of the company’s ways of giving back to the Ghanaian sporting fraternity.

She said SWAG as a body is championing a good cause in rewarding athletes and administrators and need the support of Ghanaians.

The 46th SWAG Awards Night will honour over 30 sportsmen and women as well as individuals who excelled in their area of sporting endeavours and those who contributed in diverse ways in the sports industry in the year under review.

As a novelty, this year’s SWAG Awards will also honour the best sports journalist in the country.

Abeiku Jackson has been swimming competitively since he was 4 years old. At 21 years old he has already represented Ghana at two Olympic Games.

Speaking to an independent journalist, Abeiku Jackson revealed that his journey began at the Soul Clinic International School and highlighted the importance of friendship.

"I think swimming should be a life insurance policy", Abeiku said during the chat. He also discussed having to prepare for his first Olympic games and his international general certification exam, simultaneously.

Abeiku Jackson is the first Ghanaian Swimmer to fly the flag at the Olympics and an African youth record holder.

Ghana’s first skeleton Olympian, Akwasi Frimpong placed 12th out of 29 athletes at the IBSF North American Cup skeletons race in Park City, Utah. Frimpong finished ahead of Denmark, Australia, Japan, Canada , France, Israel, Ireland, USA, Czech Republic, Malta and American Samoa. 

Akwasi Frimpong is seriously training ahead of Beijing Winter Olympic Games from 4th to 20th February next year.

Akwasi promised to make good mark in the coming games

Akwasi Frimpong is eager to make another history at the next Winter Olympic Games.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Ghana Boxing Authority has sent a congratulatory message to the North American Featherweight Champion Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe after defeating his opponent Diaz last Saturday in Las Vegas in the United States.

The Director of Communications,  Mohammed Amin Lamptey said the Ghana Boxing Authority is changing the face of Boxing in Ghana.

We also add our congratulations to Isaac Dogboe for the defense of the title, and pray that he goes for the ultimate again.

By Sammy Heywood Okine