His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on behalf of the people of Ghana received the baton of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which arrived in the country this morning and expected to spend three days in the country.

The Games baton which will travel to all the 72 member states of the Commonwealth symbolizes linkages between the English speaking countries and territories, and also begins preparation of various athletes to participate in the 2022 Games.

The President was assisted by the Chief of Staff, Hon Akosua Frema Opare, Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif, and his Deputy, Hon Evans Opoku Bobie, Director General of National Sports Authority, Prof Peter Twumasi, and President of Ghana Olympics Committee, Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, who all took turns to exchange the Queen's Button and run for some distances. Other eminent personalities in sports also gathered at the Jubilee House, tho seat of government.

On Tuesday October 26, the Queen’s Baton was on display in Accra, and held by some distinguished Sportsmen and women including Asamoah Gyan, Samuel Takyi, Grace Obuor, Kwabena Yeboah, Kofi Kenaata, Dr. Ofori Asare, Bawa Fuseini, Mawuko Afadzinu, Elizabeth King, Prof Patrick Twumasi, Emmanuel Tuffour, Jessie Lartey and others.

The Baton will be in the Garden City of Kumasi to be held by the Asantehene, then move to other toutist sites in the Ashanti Region.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), Mr. George Lamptey is lamenting the absence of the Black Bombers, Ghana National Boxing Team at the 2021 World Boxing Championships in Belgrade.

Speaking with Yours Truly he said the AIBA Men's World Boxing Championships is a important event which builds the confidence of boxers, apart from the experience and exposure that it offers boxers.  

The international competition has started on October 25, 2021 and it is scheduled to end on November 6, 2021.

According to Mr. George Lamptey, boxing is still the backbone of Ghana Sports, and will remain the best to give the nation laurels, but if the boxers and coaches are not supported or encouraged they cannot win as expected from international meetings.

He said after the great achievement of the Black Bombers at the Tokyo Olympic Games should convince the sports authorities that the boxers are capable of putting the name of Ghana very high.

According to the GBF President, Jessie Lartey has qualified to compete at the AIBA World Championship, but due to lack of funds he can not represent Ghana.

He also stated that the GBF is still owing some companies and people who supported them before the Olympic Games, and they are waiting for the promise from the President, Nana Akufo Addo to settle their debts.

The President of Ghana promised to give each member of Team Ghana $5,000 for their great feat at the Olympic Games. 38 people comprising athletes, coaches, medics, media and federation heads represented Ghana at the 2020 Olympic Games in July and August this year.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

International Youth Fellowship Secretary General Meets President of Ghana Olympic Committee

The Secretary General of the International Youth Fellowship (IYF), Mr. Lee Hun Mok on Monday arrived in Ghana and was welcomed by the President of Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah.

Mr. Lee Hun Mok who comes from the Republic of Korea said his mission is to encourage the youth of the world to be self sufficient and work hard to make life better.

He said Ghanaian youth must learn how to use their mind power to contribute to socio economic development, and making the world at large a peaceful place to live.

He expressed that some years ago Korea was not developed like now, however the leaders and people worked very hard to achieved their current status as a developed nation, and encouraged the youth of Ghana to be positive minded and dream of better life.

Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah who appreciated the visit said the youth of every nation are the future leaders, and called on the youth of Ghana to learn what others are doing right to develop themselves and the nation.

He noted that sports is one of the key areas that the youth can take advantage to learn from others, and he thanked Mr. Lee Hun Mok for coming to Ghana to share experiences.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Queen’s Baton has on Monday, October 25, 2021safely landed in Accra, Ghana from Free Town, Sierra Leone.

Mr. Alie Gibrill  Koroma, a member of the Commonwealth Games Association of Sierra Leone brought the Queen’s Baton and he presented it to the President of the Commonwealth Games Association Ghana, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah at the VIP lounge of the Kotoka International Airport.

He commended Ghana for creating an exciting scene on the Queen’s Baton.

Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah said the Baton carries a message from the queen of England to all the 72 nations of the Commonwealth, and it is in preparation towards the next Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Birmingham in 2022.

The Baton will be in Ghana for the next two days and would be held by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo and other dignitaries of the state as well as celebrities and distinguished sportsmen and women.

It will move to Tema and Kumasi where the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will hold it with some of his subjects at Manhyia palace, then to Ntonso, where the Adinkra symbols originated, and Bonwere, known to be the origin of the popular Kente cloth.

At least 100 people will bear the Baton before it moves to Cameroun on October 28.

Present at the airport to welcome the Baton was Mr. Malcolm Hood representing the British High Commission and members of the committee in charge of the Queen’s Baton in Ghana.

They include chairman Mr. Fred Otu Lartey, Mr. Isaac Duah, Mr. Melvin Brown, Mr. Abdul Hayye Yartey, Mrs. Delphina Quaye, Mr. Michael Ayeh and Miss Farida Idriss administrator at the Commonwealth Games Association Ghana.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The IOC and FIFA, the world’s richest and most powerful sports monoliths, are now in open warfare over the international calendar.

The world football federation kicked off the rapidly escalating confrontation by setting up a ‘feasibility study’ into staging its World Cup every two years. On the face of it, that would invade the scheduling territory of the International Olympic Committee’s summer Games.

SPORTS AT RISK None of the statements from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his loyal aide, development director Arsene Wenger, have sought to address how the looming dates clash may force broadcasters and sponsors to choose between World Cups or Olympics.

That could end up damaging the event revenue prospects for both events, their governing bodies and the sporting and national federations among whom their profits are shared. That is crucial to the survival, never mind development, of many minor sports and domestic football and other competitions.

Until the weekend FIFA had been given a clear run, albeit increasingly voluble opposition had erupted from the European and South American football confederations as well as many high-profile current directors, players and managers.

DIPLOMATIC MISSILE Thomas Bach, Infantino’s Olympic opposite number, sidestepped the issue at a recent media briefing. Now however the IOC’s executive board, head of course by Bach and doubtless fully representing his opinion has fired a pointed diplomatic missile at FIFA’s project.

This is possibly the most serious confrontation between the two sporting power blocks for many years. Even when FIFA was on the brink of collapse under the weight of the FIFAGate scandal in 2015 the IOC resisted point-scoring and offered words of support.

The situation now is totally different.

IOC STATEMENT A statement from the IOC board noted “FIFA’s plans to change the football competition schedule and to hold the World Cup every two years.” It then took the unprecedented step of quoting the “strong reservations and concerns” expressed by “a number of international federations of other sports, national football federations, clubs, players, players associations and coaches.”

The IOC pointed up the impact on “other major international sports” such as tennis, cycling, golf, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, Formula 1 “and many others.”

A doubling-up on the World Cup “would undermine the diversity and development of sports other than football.”

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL The IOC also suggested that an increase in men’s events would challenge the development of women’s football though FIFA would claim that its proposals are aimed at quite the opposite outcome.

Finally, the IOC said it supported “calls of stakeholders of football, international sports federations and major event organisers for a wider consultation, including with athletes’ representatives.”

In a final barbed comment, the IOC concluded that such a widespread consultation “has obviously not taken place.”

FULL IOC STATEMENT:

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) takes note of FIFA’s plans to change the football competition schedule and to hold the World Cup every two years.

A number of International Federations (IFs) of other sports, national football federations, clubs, players, players associations and coaches have expressed strong reservations and concerns regarding the plans to generate more revenue for FIFA, mainly for the following reasons:

Impact on other sports – The increased frequency and timing for the World Cup would create a clash with other major international sports. This includes tennis, cycling, golf, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, Formula 1 and many others. This would undermine the diversity and development of sports other than football.

Gender equality – The increase in men’s events in the calendar would create challenges for the further promotion of women’s football.

Players’ welfare – The plans, in particular the doubling in the frequency of the World Cup, would create a further massive strain on the physical and mental health of the players.

The IOC shares these concerns and supports the calls of stakeholders of football, International Sports Federations and major event organisers for a wider consultation, including with athletes’ representatives, which has obviously not taken place.

100 Baton people will hold the Queen’s Baton in the Ghana Relay from October 25 to 28, 2021.

The notable dignitaries include; HE Nana Akufo Addo, IGP, CDS, Sports Minster Mustapha Ussif, Ben Nunoo Mensah, Prof  Peter Twumasi, Fred Otu Lartey, Sampson Deen, Issac Duah, Mrs. Delphina Quaye, Mr Abdul Hayye Yartey, Michael Ayeh, Mohammed Mahadi, Delphina Quaye, Melvin Brown, Albert Frimpong, Kwabena Yeboah, Dr. Ofori Asare, Botsyo Nkegbe, Frederick Assor, Samuel Takyi, Kofi Kinaata etc.

72 Nations, Territories and 7000 baton bearers will have  a feel of the Torch during the Relay.

President of the Ghana Karate Do Federation, Melvin Brown is the main Custodian of the Queen’s Baton Torch while in Ghana and will provide full security for it too.

The Queen’s Baton will be in Accra before leaving for Tema then to Kumasi, Manhyia Palace to be precise on the 27th of October to be received by Otumfuor Osei Tutu 2 (King of the Ashanti Kingdom) , the Baton will also travel to Ntonsu where the Adinkra symbols originated from and also Bonwire, land of Kente.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Reigning Sports Writers Association of Ghana ( SWAG) Sports Personality of the Year 2020, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe has been awarded with the Emy Africa Award.

The top para athlete was awarded with ‘Man Of Courage’ award by the organisers for his outstanding human personality as a sportsman with disability.

The much decorated Botsyo has won so many achievements for Ghana and represented the nation in many international sports competitions.

Botsyo Nkegbe said he is very happy for the award and it will go a long way to motivate him and do well for more international recognition.

Botsyo Nkegbe is currently training towards the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2023 African Games to be hosted in Ghana.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

President of Confederation of African Football [CAF] – Dr. Patrice Motsepe has shared his joy after arriving safely in Ghana on Wednesday, October for a two-day working visit.

Visiting Ghana for the first time since he was elected as the CAF President in March, Dr. Motsepe will be the Special Guest at the Youth connects Programme.

The CAF President praised the youth of Ghana for their contribution to the betterment of Africa, insisting the young people of the country inspire the rest of the continent.

“I feel honoured to be in Ghana to participate in this Youth summit and also to meet the football community. I feel very proud of Ghana and your achievements as a country.

“It’s good to help the youth and so I am glad to be here to share ideas with the Youth and also to meet the President of the Republic of Ghana and other top officials.

“You inspire me and all of us. Ghanaians do so well all over the world, my favourite professor back in school was a Ghanaian – Philip Amoah. He was such a brilliant man.”

Mr. Charles Techie Menson retained his position as the current Best Scrabble player when he won a keen contest in memory of the late Michael Arthur Quao  at the Accra Sports Stadium last Saturday.

He had seven wins out of eight games in the competition involving 22 experienced players.

Mr. Carlos Otoo Kwofie  placed second, while Mr. Kojo Acheampong. took the third position trophy. fourth prize went to Mr. Stanley Obieni and fifth was  Mr. C. M. Planar. All the winners were presented with trophies and cast prizes.

Highest score went to Mr. Sampson Asare who placed sixth, the highest game winner went to Mr. Carlos.

The event was organized by the Scrabble Association of Ghana (SCAG) on Saturday October 23, 2021 at the media center of the Accra Sports Stadium.

President of SCAG, Mr. Haruna Adamu commended the players and urged them to spread the gospel of Scrabble to attract more players.

He said the late Micky Quao was a rock behind SCAG, having won four national titles and rising to become a coach of the National team.

"The SCAG has two tournaments coming up, the National open and West African Championships and the president appealed to companies to support their activities" he revealed .

He announced that Inter clubs competitions will be encouraged to sharpen skills of players.

Architect S. M. Quartey, a patron of the Association commended all the players and advised the players to learn . He encouraged more young people to start playing Scrabble in Ghana.

Secretary of SCAG, Ms. Christine Ashley told Yours Truly the Micky Quao Memorial championship will be an annual event to honor the great member.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana captain Andre Ayew is delighted to have won his first major trophy with Al Sadd.

Al Sadd needed penalties to win the trophy for the 18th time at the expense of Al-Rayyan at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Friday /

Al Sadd won 5-4 in the shootout after Santi Carzola canceled out Yacine Brahimi's lead for Al-Rayyan.

Ayew who has been in terrific goal scoring form for the Qatari giants since his summer move was withdrawn in the 80th minute.

Ayew said: “I am very happy to win and win my first title with Al Sadd in a big match. We have to continue working to complete the season with full strength and win more trophies,”

Ayew added:  “Al-Sadd fans were wonderful, and their large attendance was an incentive for the team, in a stadium at the highest level.”

The former Swansea City forward has scored five goals in six appearances for the Qatari club since joining them in the summer.