Former WBO Africa heavyweight champion, Richard Harrison Lartey has amenably appealed to the new Ghana Boxing Authority executive board led by Abraham Kotei Neequaye to pardon him and lift the 5-year ban enacted on him by the former administration.

Lartey (14-4, 11 KOs) has not fought since suffering a TKO defeat to Fabio Wardley in London, UK in November last year, the aftermath of which the heavyweight fighter was banned for five years earlier in 2021 by the erstwhile Lawyer Peter Zwennes administration for allegedly forging a release letter by the Ghanaian boxing governing body and gross misconduct.

But now with a new leader at the helm and the recent lift of a similar two-year ban placed on former IBF lightweight champion of the world, Richard Commey, Lartey has formally apologised to the GBA as well as taken to media platforms to extend the remorse, in a bid to have his own punishment overturned.

“I wish to render my unqualified apology to you, the entire Executive Members of the boxing authority and the boxing fraternity for comments that I made about the authority during a radio talk show and the gross disrespect that I exhibited for not showing up to answer a query preferred against me,” Lartey stated in a letter dated 27 September, 2021 addressed to the GBA President.

“Upon a sober reflection, I have come to the realization that I took a wrong approach in addressing the managerial issues pertaining to my contract. Psychologically, it had an effect on me and this brought about my fallout with the hierarchy of the boxing authority. It is in this light that I am pleading for forgiveness from the authority,” Lartey added.

“Lastly, I would like to plead with your esteemed office to take a second look at the sanction that has been imposed on me. Should the sanction be left to run its full course, it would end my career abruptly and this could bring about untold hardships to my nuclear family. I would be extremely grateful if you should ameliorate this for me,” the letter concluded.

Happier times between Harrison Lartey and Cabic Promotions chief Ivan Bruce Cudjoe and team.

In a related development, Richard Lartey also went live on radio to offer same apology as requested by the GBA since he supposedly made the pronouncements that incurred the GBA’s wrath on air.

“I want to use this platform to apologise to everyone I have wronged, it’s just unfortunate how things happened but I have deeply thought about everything and I’ve realised it’s only right I come on air to apologise and ask for forgiveness from Ghanaians and boxing stakeholders especially my former manager, Ivan Bruce Cudjoe and his Cabic Promotions team,” Lartey said on the same Happy FM earlier this week.

“Anybody whom I offended in any way, whatever I said or did, I am on the same radio station pleading that they should please forgive me and give me their blessings so I can get back to doing my job, which is fighting,” the former Africa heavyweight champ added.

Source: Ghana Boxing News

Below is the full letter of apology to the GBA:

Ghana’s Minister of Youth & Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif has attended the 40th-anniversary dinner of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Nigeria.

He was privileged to be honoured by ANOCA for his contributions to sports development and ideas to transform sports in Ghana and Africa at large.

He also participated in the presentation of honorary awards to legends who have played significant roles in developing African sports.

The Sports Minister was accompanied by the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

For the second year in a row, MTN Group has been named the most valuable

African brand in the Brand Finance Africa 150 rankings, which assigned the

group a brand value of US$2.7 billion – US$1.0 billion above the next most

valuable brand.

A report on the 2021 survey’s findings states that “the telecoms giant dominates

on home soil too, this year holding onto its decade-long reign as South Africa’s

most valuable brand”.

Brand value is defined as the “net economic benefit that a brand owner would

achieve by licensing the brand in the open market”.

Brand Finance Africa said the value of the continent’s top 150 brands fell by a

combined US$5.5 billion in 2021, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic

creating uncertainty and impacting brands’ ability to do business as usual. In

2020, it had assigned MTN a brand value of US$3.3 billion.

MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita said the latest accolades were achieved thanks to

the hard work of MTNers across the continent and their commitment to bringing

to everyone in 17 African markets the benefits of a modern connected life.

“We are both humbled and inspired by the confidence our customers and broader

stakeholders continue to place in the MTN brand. At the core, a brand is about

exceeding promises, expectations and delivering true value,” Mupita said.

“MTNers know this is the work that needs to be done every day, everywhere, as

we remain focused on our core belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a

modern connected life.”

Source – MTN

The Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is coming up with a Sheroes Project, an initiative geared towards encouraging females to play, participate and enjoy table tennis.

The president of the GTTA, Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, has revealed that his outfit will ensure the revival of the sport in all the regions of the country.

"The Sheroes Table Tennis Project in Ghana is premised on the fact that our history proves female table tennis players are the gender that has brought more international laurels for us," he revealed at a press briefing yesterday to officially announce Saturday's National Youth Championships at the Dayaran Gangaram (D.G) Hathiramani Hall of the Accra Stadium.

The event, dubbed "Discovery Series 1, Talent meets Opportunity", will witness over 300 young talents ranging from Under-21, U-18, U-15 and U-11 competing among each other for laurels.

Mr Afadzinu noted that the tournament was to create the opportunity for young table tennis talents to flourish and express themselves as to why their talents were being honed by experts.

He also announced the beginning of the ping-pong season and vowed to make the sport more popular than soccer.

"Our overall objective is to get a female president for the GTTA and empower our girls to love and appreciate the game," he explained.

Mr Afadzinu said his outfit had ensured that out of the 300 players so far registered to partake in Saturday's programme, half of them were females.

He thanked Africa Air, Promasidor and Stanbic Bank for their support for the initiative.

"This developmental project is tied to the next Olympic Games, and we are looking at the project that we will excel at the 2023 African Games and get a footing to qualify to the Olympics in 2024," he stated.

The national coach, Anthony Owusu Ansah, said the Under-21 and U-15 players comprising the cadet will compete together with the Under-11s  known as the mini-cadets.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Wilmar Africa is proud to sponsor this year's Women's 5Km Run with their most cherished brand, Frytol on October 30th, 2021.

According to the organisers, due to Covid - 19 challenges, the event would be organized virtually with a few special guests in attendance.

The event will be a hybrid of a virtual and in person race with a selected number doing the race in person, and it promises to be a unique and special activity as attractive prizes are at stake for winners and exciting performances.

Mrs. Catherine Morton, the Race Director said often times, women strive to be superwomen, but some days can be overwhelming. The lack of time, support or energy can sometimes throw women off balance. It is in this regard that Frytol believes that a life of Goodness is one to be pursued as women strive to achieve wellness in every sphere of their lives. For Frytol, Goodness means taking care of your wellbeing and therefore every woman deserves a life of Goodness which includes a balance in their physical, spiritual, financial, emotional, mental and maternal health etc.

According to Mrs. Patience Oforiwa Mpereh, Head of marketing , Wilmar Africa Limited, Frytol coming on board as main sponsors of the Women’s 5K Run/Walk is a clarion call to all women that as they find themselves multitasking on daily basis and giving love to all around them except themselves; being passionate about getting things done; juggling so much - from raising responsible children, to taking care of their homes, being great wives and working careers to cause social change; they should never forget their mental health. There must be sanity amidst all confusion in order to give off the best – and this is where Frytol becomes the shoulder to lean on by educating women through tailor made activities as well as offer a naturally cholesterol free oil to cater for their nutritional needs and that of their families.

Frytol is committed to ensuring that women live a life of Goodness and enjoy safety in their maternal health whilst creating avenue for women to acquire self-awareness and better ways to consider and pursue their wellbeing amidst the turmoil to make them give off their best. After all, you give what you have – hence enjoy a life of Goodness with Frytol.

The Women's 5K Run is an annual non profit women's only event, by Activly Sports that brings together women to walk and run with the aim of throwing light on social issues affecting women and supporting women charities in Ghana.

Their slogan is  "Together we run the world", and the program is also to promote women's maternal and mental health, aside the fun and leisure, as well as making friends and business contacts.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Chief Eke Chuku Eke, dad of Nadia Eke, Ghana’s flag bearer and triple jumper at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has congratulated Women In Sports Association (WISA) for recognizing and rewarding 48 sports personalities, including her daughter at the 7th Awards ceremony.

Speaking at the event, the Nigerian born sports lover thanked the sports authorities, especially the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), the National Sports Authority (NSA) and Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) for giving her daughter the opportunity and platform to perform at the biggest sports festival in the world.

“I have lived in Ghana for 51 years, and I love Ghana and Ghanaians. It is good for Africa to unite, and I am very proud of both Ghana and Nigeria” he said.

He congratulated all the award winners and the media for promoting sports in Ghana.

Nadia Eke is currently in the United States of America (USA) after her first and last Olympic experience. In Tokyo, Japan.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana Badminton-the governing and supervisory body of the sport in Ghana, is excited to announce today its 4th Elective Congress slated for November 9, 2021, for its members in good standing during the four-year assessment period (2017-2021)

Per National Calendar released in March 2021, the Elective congress was scheduled for the 4th Quarter of the year. The November 9, 2021 Elective Congress will elect National Board Members with the following positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer and Five Executive Board Members for the 2022-2025 assessment period.

With nominations and submissions opened till October 12, 2021, members in good standing for 2017-2021 assessment period who meet the constitutional guidelines (linked here) criteria, and the public are invited to take part in leadership roles in the Association.

Further to this, notice of congress was issued yesterday, and per the articles of the association (linked here) delegates who are shareholders from 36 Badminton Community Clubs in good standing, 6 Regional Associations, 9 Statutory Committees and 8 institutional affiliates are entitled to vote and attend the teleconference meeting.

The National Association held its 2020 Annual General Meeting &Members Forum duly attended by Shareholder delegates members in good standing, among others further approved resolutions per constitutional provisions as enshrined.

About Ghana Badminton Association-www.ghanabadminton.org

We are Ghana Badminton, the Governing and supervisory body of Badminton in Ghana formed in 1962 and affiliated with the Badminton Confederation of Africa, International Olympic Committee, and International Paralympic Committee through the Badminton World Federation

The unique qualities of badminton make it accessible and enjoyable for anyone and everyone. And we work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to provide traditional and innovative opportunities for all to be involved; from Basic, Senior High and Tertiary School programs to seniors and Veterans social badminton, from School, community, and regional clubs and our national class coaching development to the delivery of our major events.

With Olympic success at the heart of our ambitions, we are investing our knowledge and expertise in rebuilding build a quality future for our sport by strengthening and developing the domestic game and developing talent to achieve success on the international stage, inspiring the next generation of players and local fans, and corporate community.

With thousands of Ghanaians playing every year, badminton is looking forward to being the nation’s favourite racket sport by 2022. We want to inspire everyone to play more, support louder and love badminton, from this generation to the next as the world’s fastest exercise and racket sport.

Source: ghanabadminton.org

Major global boxing and media company Probellum has announced a multi-fight, multi-year deal co-promotional contract with Ghana’s Box Office Sports.

The deal consists of Probellum co-promoting events in Ghana alongside Box Office Sports, who are widely regarded to be one of the biggest boxing promoters in all of Africa.

Headed by CEO Alex Ntiamoah- Boakye, Box Office Sports is synonymous with boxing in Ghana and since its inception in 2008, has been associated with and promoted virtually all of the big events to take place in the country, whilst also working with internationally recognised stars like Richard Commey, Isaac Dogboe, Emmanuel Tagoe, Fredrick Lawson and more.

In 2014, Box Office Sports promoted the most anticipated bout in the history of Ghana between Braimah Kamoko (Bukom Banku) and Ayittey Powers (Michael Ayittey), which attracted over 20,000 live spectators and over 10 million people watching on TV.

It is the latest statement of intent from Probellum, as they illustrate their goal of working in collaboration with established promoters around the world. Empowering and enabling grassroots boxing is an important initiative for Probellum as it builds a ubiquitous, digital platform to compliment broadcasters and promoters, benefitting those in areas and territories who are passionate about boxing but do not have the necessary resources at their disposal.

“Box Office Sports has since its inception believed Ghanaian boxers should have the opportunity of fighting on their home soil whilst reaching a global audience and building toward achieving their dreams of becoming world champions,” said Alex Ntiamoah-Boakye, CEO of Box Office Sports.

“The partnership of Box Offices Sports and Probellum is like a fruitful marriage that we feel is geared to birthing many future world champions. We are truly excited to be taking Ghana and our warrior spirited fighters to the world.”

“Announcing this multi-fight, multi-year deal with Box Office Sports in Ghana is the next step in our global strategy plan,” said Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum. “Our number one goal at Probellum is to empower fighters and galvanize a global fanbase, and this agreement helps to achieve just that.

“We have seen a lot of Ghanaian-born athletes become huge stars in markets like the USA and the UK, and this partnership would allow those boxers to fight on a huge platform back in Ghana, giving them a spectacular homecoming they deserve.”

Source: Probellium

The Women In Sports Association (WISA) has honoured 48 Sports Personalities on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at the Accra Sports Stadium. The event was sponsored by Ghandour Cosmetics.

The awardees included the two females who represented Ghana at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, sports journalists, administrators, coaches and supporters.

President of WISA, Madam Gloria Commodore, a veteran sports journalist who is a member of SWAG and AIPS said it is inspiring to recognize and reward individuals who stand out and work very hard, and also as a way of encouraging others.

SPORTS SUPPORTERS

Mary Osei Gyambra - Die Hard Sports Supporters Union

Grace Okyere - Die Hard Sports Supporters Union

Vicentia Doku – President, Accra Hearts of Oak Ladies

REGIONAL FEMALE SPORTS JOURNALISTS

Esther Osei -Sports Journalist, Ashanti Region

Evelyn Nsiah Asare - Sports Journalist, Ashanti Region

Akosua Frimpomaa - Sports Journalist, Brong Ahafo Region.

Humul Khrusum - Sports Journalist, Upper East Region

Tilda Acorlor -Sports Journalist, Volta Region

GREATER ACCRA FEMALE SPORTS JOURNALISTS

Christine Dzaka - Sports Journalist

Akosua Addai Amoo – Sports Journalist

Betty Yawson - Sports Journalist

Edna Quansah - Sports Journalist

Matilda Dzifa Dimedo - Sports Journalist

Mary Afua - Sports Photojournalist

Elizabeth Ozil Alhassan - Sports Journalist

Victoria Nana Adwoa Kwofie - Sports Journalist

Margarete Yirenkyi Anderson - Sports Journalist

WISA INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Henrietta Armah -Taekwondo

Eunice Omolara Adedapo - Taekwondo

Juliana Arkoh - Power Lifting

Grace Mintah - Armwrestling

Nadia Eke - Triple Jump (Olympics)

Dr. Ornella Sathoud Ph.D - Boxing (U.S.A. Based)

Priscilla Toffah - Boxing

Janet Acquah - Boxing

Osuman Fairuza - Boxing

Christine Ashley (Chess) - Admin (NSA)

Unilez Takyi - Swimming (Olympics)

Afia Serebour - Secretary (NSA)

Naa Anyema Mckorley - Tennis

Naa Shika Mckorley -Tennis

WISA SPECIAL AWARDS

Madam Elizabeth King - Women Sports Commission (GOC)

Madam Joyce Mahama - President WOSPAG

Madam Eva Okyere - Sports Analyst / Lawyer

Madam Hillary Maame Adwoa Boaten - Chairperson, Women Football

Madam Naa Odofoley Nortey - Female Match Commissioner

Madam Naa Yaoley Atsiabroni 1- Former Boxer (Yarkor Chavez)

Madam Naa Amerley Turkson - Referee / Coach, Boxing

Madam Mercy Tagoe Quarcoo - Coach Black Queens

Madam Gloria Peprah - Sports Journalist GTV Sports Plus

Madam Rosemary Mroba Gaisie - Director WISA

Mr. Sammy Heywood Okine - Director WISA

Mr. Yussif Basigi - Coach Hasaacas Ladies F.C.

WISA - TEAM AWARDS

Mamobi Girls Football Team - (Coach Nasir)

Nima Girls Football Team - (Coach Nasir)

Ideal Ladies Football Club - (Naa Dzomo)

Rugby Ghana Womens Team - (Rafatu Inusah)

Hasaacas Ladies Football Club - (Coach Yussif Basigi)           

Source - WISA Communications

One of Ghana’s most outstanding investment bankers and former CEO of CalBank Mr Frank Adu was the first Corporate leader in the country to invest in Ghana Beach Soccer.

A fine horse rider and accomplished Polo player, Mr Adu signed a cheque of GH 40,000 cedis as the seed investment for Beach Soccer development in 2011.

Although it was initially a CSR partnership, CalBank would go on to invest massively in the sport at the communities level which saw the sand sport spread to every coastal region Ghana.

Over a period of a decade, the indigenous financial institution has supported the game in Ghana beyond the sand pitches with sanitation awareness, environmental degradation and conservation workshops.

The template for CalBank’s corporate branding, naturally rubbed off Ghana Beach Soccer through joint seminars, media training sessions and sports events branding.

The sponsorship of consecutive domestic Beach Soccer leagues was inevitably boosted by the additional sponsorship of the Ghana national Beach Soccer team; the Black Sharks

2021 marks ten years of an unbroken partnership between an emerging sport and Ghana’s leading indigenous financial institution. Much has been achieved over that period.

COVID-19 setbacks aside, the imminent inauguration of the newly formed Ghana Beach Soccer Clubs Union will be followed by the first competitive event in communities since 2019.

And according to Mr Phillip Owiredu, the man who received the management baton from Frank Adu, much more is yet to come from CalBank and Ghana Beach Soccer.

Source: Beach Soccer Ghana