The Women In Sports Association (WISA) will honour 48 Sports Personalities on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

They include 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 encouraging to recognize and reward individuals who stand up and work very hard.

She said due to Covid-19, the event was not held in 2020, so the winners have become plenty.

She appealed to companies and people who love sports to support the WISA initiative which is in its 7^th season.

Madam Gloria Commodore commended the media (SWAG), the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and National Sports Authority (NSA) for supporting WISA and the Awards Programme.

The event will see the performance of some super exciting female artistes to grace the occasion.

FULL LIST OF AWARDEES FOR 2021 - WISA ACHIEVERS AWARDS

SPORTS SUPPORTERS

Mary Osei Gyambra - Die Hard Sports Supporters Union

Grace Okyere - Die Hard Sports Supporters Union

Vicentia Doku - Hearts Chapter- President

REGIONAL FEMALE SPORTS JOURNALISTS

Esther Osei -Sports Journalist, Ashanti Region

Evelyn Nsiah Asare - Sports Journalist, Ashanti Region

Akosua Frimpomaa - Sports Journalist, Sunyani

Humul Khrusum - Sports Journalist, Upper East Region

Tilly Acorlor -Sports Journalist, Volta Region

GREATER ACCRA FEMALE SPORTS JOURNALISTS

Christine Dzaka - Sports Journalist Kwese Tv

Akosua Addai Amoo - Freelance Journalist / Law

Betty Yawson - Sports Journalist Starr Fm / Max Tv

Edna Quansah - Sports Journalist G.N.A.

Matilda Dzifa Dimedo -  Sports Journalist G.F.A.

Mary Afua - Sports Photography - Freelance

Elizabeth Ozil Alhassan - Sports Journalist - Freelance

Victoria Nana Adwoa Kwofie - Handball/Sports Journalist

Nana Yirenkyiwaa - 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 And Coach, Boxing

Madam Mercy Tagoe Quarcoo - Coach Black Queens

Madam Gloria Peprah - Sports Journalist Gtv Sports Plus

Rosemary Mroba Gaisie - Director WISA

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

Jeanette Zacarias Zapata appeared to have a seizure in the ring and was taken to hospital after the fight

A teenage boxer has died, five days after being knocked out in a professional fight.

Mexican welterweight Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, 18, was knocked down in the fourth round against Marie Pier Houle at the GVM Gala International in Montreal on Saturday.

She appeared to have a seizure after being dazed by a left uppercut and a right hook and was taken to hospital.

The fight promoter, Yvon Michel, announced the news on Thursday.

"It is with great sadness and torment that we learned, from a representative of her family, that Jeanette Zacarias Zapata passed away this afternoon at 3:45pm," his statement read.

Report

"The entire team at Groupe Yvon Michel team is extremely distressed by this painful announcement," the promoters said in their statement, offering condolences to the fighter's family.

Houle reacted on Instagram, saying how upset she was at the outcome.

"Boxing carries a lot of risks and dangers," she said. "This is our job, our passion. Never, forever, intention to seriously hurt an opponent is part of my plans."

The WBC also paid tribute to Zapata, saying: "The president of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán and the entire boxing family affiliated with the WBC, as well as all boxing, mourns this irreparable loss.

"We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jeanette. May she rest in peace."

Source - BBC

19 year old Ghanaian Alfred Lamptey aka ‘Bukom Bomber’ on Saturday night became the new World Boxing Organsation (WBO) Youth Junior Lightweight and World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth Silver Super Featherweight champion after defeating Iddi Kayumba of Tanzania at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.

The enterprising skillful pugilist won every round, putting Kayumba to the canvas in the second round and incessantly thumped the Tanzanian throughout the bout until the referee Roger Barnor stopped proceedings in R10.

The teenage rising star who turned pro last year has now won four different belts in two straight fights after winning  the West Africa Boxing Union (WABU) and Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) featherweight belts respectively by defeating veteran, George Krampah at the same Bukom Boxing Arena back in March this year.

Alfred Lamptey who also loves to be called ‘Show Time’ progresses in his record to 9-0, 7 KOs and moves on in his mission to become one of the youngest world champions.

He is sponsored by Ashfoam Ghana, and the Communications Manager of the company, Nana Yaw Ampem Darko Antwi can not wait to congratulate him for becoming the nation’s freshest world champion.

Meanwhile, Friends of Boxing (FOB) have also congratulated the new champion, and advised him to remain committed, disciplined and train harder to reach the bigger titles.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s top sprinter Benjamin Azamati has been rewarded by West Texas A&M Athletics for his exploits at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Azamati and six other athletes represented Ghana in Track & Field at the Games. He did the 100 meters dash and was a finalist in the 100 x 4, for the first time since 1996 and one of the men who broke the national 100 x 4 relay record.

He expressed genuine gratitude to the West Texas A&M Athletics for honoring him, it brings dedication and self-belief to his work as a student-athlete.

Azamati and 13 other sportsmen and women as well as 15 officials will benefit from a $5,000 presidential gift for putting the name of the nation high at the Tokyo Games.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

MTN Ghana, has paid a working visit to Zipline Drone Services’ operation centre at Omenako-Suhum in the Eastern Region. The visit was to enable the technical staff of both companies to assess the services provided by MTN and find other possible ways of collaboration. 

Speaking during the visit, the Senior Manager for MTN Ghana Enterprise Sales, Daniel Asare, explained that “Zipline is one of the clients of MTN Business who we provide both voice and data services, and we are using this opportunity to interact with them to see how we can continue to work together even into the future”.

“Zipline Ghana relies greatly on internet services in their day-to-day operations and MTN is delighted to be the service provider to this critical and essential service of delivering medical commodities to the hard-to-reach areas of the country. MTN business provides the company with dedicated internet needed for successful navigation of their drones” he added.

The Country Manager of Zipline Ghana, Naa Adorkor Yawson, said “internet connectivity is at the core of what we do at Zipline for which reason we find such visits as good opportunities for service providers to particularly understand our needs and see how best they can continue to support us in meeting the needs of more than one thousand health facilities we deliver medical commodities to”.

“Access to reliable and resilient data services are critical to the operation of a business like Zipline. Having a robust partner like MTN with footprints all over the country means that Zipline can have the necessary connectivity to reach remote areas in the country. As we grow in our operations we will continue to rely on internet connectivity in achieving our mandate of saving lives,” she noted. We are happy to host MTN, one of our service providers, who have come here today to see firsthand what we do. This is a great way of building partnerships”, she added.

The mandate of Zipline is to serve very remote rural areas with the use of drones for emergency deliveries of vaccines, blood products, and other life-saving medications. The company currently has four distribution centres across the country and provides services to over 610 centres and makes an average of 150 flights a day. The operations of Zipline Ghana complements what already exists on the grounds in order to ensure that they are responsive when it comes to quality health care delivery in the country.

MTN Business, as a service provider has been an enabler for several organizations by providing cutting edge solution to address business needs.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

AMA To Support Samuel Takyi And Other Emerging Stars Within Accra Metropolis

The Chief Executive (Mayor) of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA),Hon Mohammed Adjei Sowah has announced plans to set up a special fund to support Ghana's sole medalist at the just-ended Olympic Games in Tokyo, Samuel Takyi and other emerging stars from the Accra Metropolis.

He said this would be in a form of monthly stipends to help in their training and upkeep which would serve as a motivation for them to achieve their dreams.

Mayor Sowah made the announcement when the Ghana Boxing Federation- Managers of the National Boxing Team, Black Bombers and other members of  Ghana's contingent for the Tokyo Olympic Games led by Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GBF)- George Lamptey called on him to officially present the bronze medal and Olympic Torch to him on Wednesday at the City Hall in Accra.

He admonished the Athletes present to remain disciplined and cited examples of various talents who cut short their fame in stardom due to negative attitudes and factors which seriously caused their retrogression to further greatness.

The Mayor made a personal donation of a complete set of state of the art Boxing Ring to the Ghana Boxing Federation- who are also in charge of the Management, Promotion, development and Sanctioning of Kids, Juvenile and Amateur Boxing in Ghana.

Takyi's bronze was the only boxing medal won by Africa at the Tokyo2020 Olympics Games.

Also, present were, Coach Ofori Asare, Assistant Coach Vicent Akai Nettey, Sulemanu Tetteh (Captain  of the Black Bombers), Shakul Samed, Weightlifter- Christian Amoah, Charles JoJo Ephson (Communication Officer of GBF) and senior officials of the Accra Metropolitan Asembly (AMA).

Credit: GOC COMMUNICATION / GBF MEDIA

Ghana proud bronze medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Samuel Takyi together with the Black Bombers and the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Ashfoam Ghana.

Ashfoam Ghana was the main sponsor of the apparel of Team Ghana at the Tokyo2020 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Team met the management of Ashfoam who were very happy of their achievement at the world’s biggest sports festival.

General Manager of Ashfoam, George Massih advised  the boxers to work hard and continue to strive hard to make names and history for themselves.

He urged them to continue to work with the GOC and win more laurels for the nation.

Marketing Manager, Nana Yaw Ampem Darko-Antwi also said Ashfoam will continue to support the GOC and Ghana Sports Federations to develop talents to represent the nation at international competitions.

Other members of Team Ghana on the trip were boxers Suleimanu Tetteh and Shakul Samed as well as weightlifter, Christian Amoah who moved from 148^th position to 12^th at the Olympic Games.

The President of the Ghana Boxing Federation, Mr. George Lamptey, coaches Akai Nettey and Ofori Asare were among the visitors.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Two amazing Ghanaian boxers have won West African Boxing Union (WABU) championship titles in Nigeria after performing well on August 21, 2021 under Felachamp Promotions at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Issifu Yussif Seidu won the WABU Super Featherweight Champion by beating Azeez Tijani, while Mohammed Ali claimed the WABU Light-heavyweight championship belt from Olatunbosun Ogunbanwo of Nigeria.

The boxers from the Akotoku Boxing gym in Accra, Ghana were coached by Elvis Robertson and Noah Awatey.

“It’s been long since we produced a world champion for Ghana which has really affected our pedigree as an elite gym in the country but we are working hard on that,” said trainer Noah Awatey who is currently in charge together with Emmanuel Abbey and Elvis Robertson who are trying to groom and inspire the next generation of champions.

Technical Director of Akotoku Boxing gym, Theo Edwin Addo is in Australia, and his staff are committed to producing another world champion by 2025, according to coach Noah Awatey.

Currently in 2021, Akotoku Academy boasts of 28 boxers, made up of seven professionals, 14 amateurs, five juveniles and two females.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Besesaka Foundation has presented monthly stipends and provisions to the 10 young juvenile boxers who were selected for their full scholarship program.

The foundation led by Mr. C. Nortey, a former footballer who has fallen in love with boxing expressed satisfaction on how the boxers have performed so far, and for how far they come.

The 10 beneficiaries of the maiden boxing scholarship program have their tuition being paid for the next four years, and supported with monthly stipends and provisions.

The  Besesaka Foundation team is technically managed by the GBA Technical Coach Lawrence Lokko and Coach Akai Nettey, who was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and assisted by coach Osman.

The Besesaka Foundation contributed massively to the Black Bombers preparations and participation in the 2020 Olympic Games with the provision of sports equipment and funds to the Ghana Boxing Federation.

“The Foundation has come to support amateur and juvenile boxing, and we are very happy with the performance of the Black Bombers at the Olympic Games in Japan”  Mr. Nortey said.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

… Receives $5000 From Japanese Philanthropist

Ghana’s Power lifter at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Emmanuel Nii Tettey Oku weighing 70.54kg  placed 7^th out of 10 with a lift of 160kg.

He could not reach the medal zone, but the Ghanaian powerlifter Emmanuel Nii Tettey received a $5000 donation from a Japanese Philanthropist after his impressive debut at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics.

The 30-year-old who was one of three athletes representing Ghana at the Paralympics competed in the Men's 72kg Powerlifting event was very impressive having placed seventh in the category.

The Philanthropist who wants to remain anonymous said he was impressed by the composure of the athlete in addition to his performance.

He later revealed that after reading in the Japanese daily newspaper and reviews on television about the feat chalked by Emmanuel Tetteh Oku, he was moved to help the young athlete who was making his first Paralympic appearance.

The Philanthropist who once resided in Ghana engaged the President of NPC-Ghana, Mr. Samson Deen and NPC-Ghana Secretary General, Mr. Peter Adjei in a presentation ceremony also pledged to help to build an indoor Sports Centre for Ghana.

The NPC President Mr. Samson Deen thanked him on behalf of the athlete for his kind gesture and assured him of greater successes in future events.

Emmanuel Tetteh Oku won a bronze medal in Manchester (UK) at the World Para Powerlifting World Cup in 2020.

It is on record that Nkegbe Botsyo has made the most Paralympic appearances for Ghana, contesting in the T54 sprint events at three consecutive editions of the games between 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Anita Fordjour has achieved the highest ranking of an athlete from Ghana, placing seventh in both T53 100m and T53 200m at the 2012 games in London before the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which Emmanuel Nii Tettey Oku has beaten to take the most mark ever achieved by a Ghanaian at the Paralympic Games.

From Sammy Heywood Okine