Ghana’s Para Athlete ZINABU ISSAH won Gold in shot put at the Paris 2024 Qualifiers Grand Prix Marrakech in Morocco.

She competed in the F57 Women's shot put throw where she threw a distance of 7.94 metres to lead that class event to win a Gold Medal for Ghana at the Ongoing 2024.

Kadissa Koumeal of Togo was second with a throw of 7.05 meters, as Benin’s Houndalowan Marina Charlotte took the bronze medal.

They faced stiff challenge from athletes from Cameroun, Rwanda, Senegal Congo DR and Morocco who all did their personal best

“Zinabu is in pole position for qualification to France” said President of the NPC Ghana, Mr. Samson Deen who congratulated her and urged other athletes to do well to gain more points in the qualifications.

Zinabu Issah was an award winner at the 9th WISA Awards last year.

The Paralympic Games comes off in Paris, France from August 28 to September 8, 2024.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Isaac Makwala, Tumo Stagato Van Wyk and Refilwe Murangi back in the team.

• Batisane Kennekae (23) - the new face in Botswana team.
• Zibane Ngozi and Tlhomphang Basele out of the team due to injuries.

The event is scheduled to take place from the 4th to 5th May 2024 in Nassau, Bahamas and Botswana will be represented by men's 4x400m, wowen's 4x400m and 4x400m mixed relay.

Good luck Team Botswana!!!

Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has urged Dreams FC not to be complacent in their semifinals clash against the Egyptian top side, Zamalek on Sunday.

The Still Believe lads are in the semifinals and are close to clinching their maiden continental title. After holding Zamalek to a pulsating goalless draw in Cairo in the first leg of the Confederation Cup semifinals, the Ghanaian FA Cup champions heads into the return leg with the advantage.

Dreams FC will take the 2019 champions at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday at 4pm and are aiming for a positive result to book a place in the final against the Egyptian powerhouse.

“They should guard against complacency, this is their time. They should take advantage and save Ghana football as the sole rep in Africa” said the GOC President who is a keen football enthusiast.

Zamalek arrived in the Garden City on Thursday with a chartered flight for the crucial encounter.

The match holds immense significance for Dreams FC, as they aim to become the first Ghanaian side in two decades to reach the final of the Confederation Cup. The last time a Ghanaian team achieved this feat was in 2004 when Hearts of Oak and Kotoko faced off in the final, with Hearts emerging victorious.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

President of Ghana Paralympic Committee commends media for successful EGA.

Samson Deen will spearhead the African Paralympic Committee EGA from May 16 to 18, 2024.

By Media Friends of Samson Deen

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) announces the death of renowned Legendary Ghanaian Journalist, Broadcaster & First President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Mr Joachim Awuley Lartey aka 'Joe Lartey' on April 26, 2024.

The late broadcaster also known as "Over To You Joe Lartey" passed at age 96.

#RIP Sir

Joseph Paul Amoah, Isaac Botsio, Joseph Oduro Manu, Barnabas Aggerh and  Ibrahim Fuseini will represent Team Ghana in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, USA this weekend to attempt a 4x100m men relay qualification to the #Olympics2024 in France.

From Elizabeth Alhassan

Ghana’s Para Athlete ZINABU ISSAH won Gold in a Paris 2024 Qualification Event.

Ghana’s Para Athlete Zinabu Issah has competed in the F57 Women's discus throw where she threw a convincing distance of 26.66 metres to lead that class event to win a Gold Medal for Ghana at the Ongoing 2024 Grand Prix Marrakech in Morocco.

The qualification mark is 19 meters but she did 26 meters to be in pole position for qualification to France.

President of the Ghana Paralympic Committee, Mr. Samson Deen congratulated Zinabu and urged her to do more to gain more points in her sport.

Zinabu Issah was an award winner at the 9th WISA Awards last year, and that recognition has motivated her a lot. President of Women In Sports Association (WISA), Madam Gloria Commodore also commended her efforts.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The male and female table tennis teams of Ghana have qualified to the semi-finals of the team’s event at the on-going Regional Championships happening in Lome, Togo.

The male team had a walkover over Guinea in their first match. They went ahead to beat Cote d’Ivoire 3-2 in their second match. In the final group match, Ghana beat Benin 3-0 to stay top of group 2.

The male team will battle it out with Togo in their semi-final encounter for a place in the finals.

Reigning champions Nigeria will meet Benin in the other semi-final encounter.

The female team also beat Togo and Benin 3-0 respectively and also had a walkover over Guinea. By this performance, they also topped their group.

The female team will meet Cote d’Ivoire in the semi-finals while Nigeria will also play Benin in the other semi-finals.

Emmanuel Commey, Samuel Akayade,  James Marfo, Israel Aklie and Michael Yeboah make up the male team. They are coached by Ebenezer Anang-Whyte

The female team is made of up Cynthia Kwabi, Celia Baah-Danso, Bernice Borley Borquaye, Juanita Borteye and Blessing Labanti. They are also coached by David Senyo Ahiaba.

The team is accompanied by Coach Robert Amartey, who doubles as Equipment Manager.

The 3-day event from 25th to 27th April 2024 serves as qualifiers for the African Championships to be held in Ethiopia in October 2024.

Source Nathaniel Kwesi Somuah, Ghana Table Tennis Association

Team Ghana will be represented by six men and one woman (US based middleweight 75Kg) Ornella Sathoud.

According to PRO of GBF Mr. Joojo Ephson, they decided to invest on their participation in the 2nd World Olympic Qualification event in Bangkok, Thailand from May 22-June 2, 2024.

Twelve boxers failed to secure any at the qualifying tournament in Senegal last year.

In March, seven Ghanaian boxers competed for 49 available slots in the first of Olympic Qualifier of the year in Italy.

The Black Bombers team of Samuel Takyi (light welterweight), Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey (flyweight division), Alfred Kotei (light-middleweight), Jonathan Tetteh (light heavyweight) and Leicester-born Mark Kojovi Ahondao (heavyweight), all failed to secure spots.

The female boxers - Black Hitters pair, Janet Ackah and Warrant Officer Anatu Mohammed, also failed to qualify.

The Ghana rejuvenated squad include Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey, who will fight in the 51kg; 2020 Olympics bronze medallist Samuel Takyi (63.5kg), and Jonathan Tetteh (light-heavyweight category).

UK-based boxer Mark Kodjovi Ahondjo, who failed to compete in the first world qualification tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy will be thare, as well as African Games gold medallist Amadu Mohammed (featherweight) and the winner of a bout between Henry Malm and UK-based Haruna Rex Coffie on May 4 at the Bukom Boxing Arena to decide the seventh boxer for the tournament.

In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, popular fighter Abubakar Kamoko stands ready to step in as a reserve for Jonathan Tetteh. African Games Bronze Medalist Mohammed Aryeetey is also a reserve for Theo Allotey.

Coach Dr. Ofori Asare and GBF Vice President Dauda Fuseni are optimistic they will be represented at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The President of GBF, Ben Quartey and CDM of Paris 2024 Mr. Duah also share the same views.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has been awarded the title of African Sports Minister of the Year.

The accolade, bestowed upon him at the inaugural Africa Sports & Tourism Awards (ASTA) held in Abuja, Nigeria, was in recognition of his outstanding leadership and tireless efforts in advancing the sports sector across the continent.

The ceremony, themed “Sports as a Catalyst for Accelerated Tourism Development in Africa,” brought together persons from the sporting and tourism industries to honour individuals and initiatives driving transformative change in Africa.

Supported by Project Fly With Us Africa, the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, and the African Tourism Board, ASTA heralded a new era in recognizing the synergies between sports and tourism on the African continent.

Organisers said the award was in recognition of his visionary leadership and dedication to elevating Ghana’s sporting landscape, particularly his instrumental role in successfully hosting and organizing the 13th African Games in Ghana.

The award was received on behalf of Hon. Mustapha Ussif by a delegation led by Ambassador Inusah Zimblim, the Head of Consular and Welfare (Ghana High Commission - Abuja); the Executive Assistant to the Minister, Jamaludeen A. Abdullah; the director of Protocol of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dinah Boateng, and the Security Advisor at the High Commission in Abuja, Commodore Bassing.

In an acceptance speech on behalf of the Minister, Mr. Jamaludeen expressed gratitude for the honour bestowed upon the Minister, stating, “This award is a testament to the collective efforts of all those who have contributed to Ghana’s sporting success. It is a recognition of Ghana’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of sports. On behalf of my boss, I will say we are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious award and remain steadfast in our dedication to advancing the sports agenda in Ghana and beyond.”

Other awardees on the night included Senator John Owan-Enoh, Minister of Sports Development of Nigeria, Governor of Lagos, H. E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusa, Founder of Heartland F.C, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and the Minister of Tourism of Nigeria, Lola Ade-John, among others.

Source Graphiconline