The Mixed Doubles Category was won by Wicki Reto and Yvonne Bruce-Tagoe

The 8th edition of the biggest tennis doubles event in Ghana, Babolat Tema Doubles Tennis Open came to an end in a grand style on Sunday, 15th November 2020.

The tournament themed “Love All Tennis for Peace” was climaxed with a colourful closing ceremony that took place at the TOR Clubhouse.

Since 2013, organizers of Babolat Tema Doubles Tennis Open, Baboo Sports, have among other things created a platform to unearth talents for the Junior National teams. A pleasant recall was when Ghana’s gold-winning team at the 2015 African Games Tennis used the 2015 Babolat Tema Doubles Open as prepping grounds.

This year’s tournament saw the introduction of the wheelchair tennis doubles category, for the first time in the competition. The Wheelchair tennis doubles category was one of the new initiatives by organizers this year, in a quest to achieve Baboo's goal of making Tennis in Ghana all-inclusive while helping to develop and promote Wheelchair tennis in Ghana. Bernard Tagoe and Isaac Yawson emerged as winners of the Wheelchair category, beating Abdullar Sufu and Abdul Razak Nuhu in the final.

In the Mixed Doubles Category, Favorites; Wicki Reto and Yvonne Bruce- Tagoe maintained their consistency throughout the tournament, before producing a masterclass to clinch gold, ahead of Faustina Tagoe and David Naawu.

David Kisseh and debutant Ato Debordes knocked out Paa Kofi Grant and Nartey Isaac in the final to win the veterans duel in the above 50s Men’s category.

The young talented duo of Desmond Ayaaba and Emmanuel Antwi were phenomenal on the day as they clinched the U18 Boys title from Eric and Bright Nertey.

In the Social 1 category (category designed for the person who play tennis as a hobby), Albert Arthur and Raymond Hayford narrowly beat Seth Mingle and Prince Ablorh in final, while Y. Akotwa and Okang were at their best when they came up against Agyeman and Zweness.

Ghana’s number 1 seed in the ladies singles, Yvonne Tagoe also clinched her second title on the day after winning the ladies doubles with Naa Mckorley . Yvonne and Yamak flourished with a blend of experience and well-harnessed techniques helped them overcome Tracy Ampah and Augustina Yamak.

It took a tie-breaker to crown Johnson Acquah and Roland Tottimeh champions in the Professionals category, after a difficult encounter with Frederick Mbano and Jeff Bagerbaseh.

Winners in each category were awarded a trophy, a piece of the latest Babolat racket, Babolat bag, a pair of Babolat shoes, apparel, and a one-month gym assessment.

Runners up were given the same prizes except for a trophy.

Speaking at the sideline of the event, Ghana Tennis Federation Board Member, Mr Jesse Ato Desbordes stated that tournaments like this (Babolat Tema Tennis Doubles) are bringing Ghana Tennis to the limelight.

“Tennis in Ghana is coming up gradually, in the past, it used to be in the shadow, but tournaments like this and others that are coming up we are bringing Ghana tennis into the limelight. With time we will be able to solve any problems we are facing.”

The Babolat Tema Tennis doubles, over the years has served as a platform to unearth tennis talents and project the image of the game in Ghana.

Source - Babolat Tennis

Head Coach of Ghana’s Female Senior National team (Black Queens), Mercy Tagoe Quarcoo has named a provisional 30 squad list for an upcoming friendly game against their Moroccan counterparts scheduled for November 30.

The called up players and technical team members are to report to camp at the GFA Technical Centre (GSCE), Prampram on Thursday and undergo the mandatory Covid19 test on arrival.

Below are the invited players for the match

NAME        CLUB

Fafali Dumehasi    Police ladies FC

Abigail Tawiah-Mensah  Berry ladies FC

Azume Adams      Prisons Ladies FC

Mary NiiQuaye     Immigration ladies FC

Janet Egyir  Hasaacas Ladies FC

Linda Eshun         Hasaacas Ladies FC

Philicity Asuako   Police ladies FC

Victoria Osei         Berry ladies FC

Selina Animah      Berry ladies FC

Gladys Anfobea    Lady Strikers FC

Beatrice Sasu        Police ladies FC

Ellen Coleman      Lady Strikers FC

Edem Atovor        Lady Strikers FC

Juliet Acheampong         Prisons Ladies FC

Mary Essiful         Soccer Intellectuals

Priscilla Okyere     Ampim-Darkoa Ladies FC

Grace Adams        Berry ladies FC

Basira Alhassan     Pearl Pia Ladies FC

Henrietta Annie     Police ladies FC

Alice Kusi   Fabulous ladies FC

N-yanyimaya Gnabekan  Berry ladies FC

Bridget Adu          Berry ladies FC

Rashida Ibrahim    Berry ladies FC

Sandra Owusu-Ansah     Supreme Ladies FC

Faustina Kyeremeh         Immigration ladies FC

Deborah Afriyie    Police ladies FC

Georgina Aoyem   Pearl Pia Ladies FC

Grace Animah       Police ladies FC

Rita Okyere Prisons Ladies FC

Alberta Ahialey     Portugal

GFA

Black Stars coach, Charles Akonnor has assured Ghanaians that the team will qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, scheduled for 2022 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ghana’s chances of qualifying for the continental showpiece with two games to spare, hit a snag, as Sudan defeated the Black Stars by a lone goal at the Al-Hilal Sports Stadium in Omdurman on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Ghana will now have to win either of their games with São Tomé and Príncipe and South Africa before they can book their qualification for the tournament.

Despite the team’s inability to qualify before the last round of games, coach Akonnor has assured Ghanaians that Ghana will be among the 24 teams that will feature in the next Africa Cup of Nations.

“What I can say is we’ll learn from the mistakes we’ve made and of course in March we have two matches coming on.

“I strongly believe and I can assure Ghanaians that we’ll do our best to qualify,” coach Charles Akonnor said after the death of Sudan.

Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah with GFA President Kurt Okraku

Ghana Premier League clubs are set to get huge Gh¢50,000 support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports as 2020/21 league games are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus crisis.

Ahead of the start of the season, the Sports Ministry in a statement last week directed all sporting events across the country to be played behind closed doors due to COVID-19.

Matches in the Ghanaian top-flight are currently played behind closed doors which has emerged as a financial burden on the participating clubs.

However, a report filed by Accra-based Angel FM, the Sports Ministry has pledged to cushion the financial burden on the top-tier clubs with a token of GH¢50,000.

The Ghana Premier League has started on a competitive level as only one victory was recorded after 9 round of games in the opening day.

In the nine matches played on Matchday 1, only WAFA SC and the King Faisal fixture produced a win as eight matches ended in stalemates.

The game between Aduana Stars and Hearts of Oak was cancelled at the last hour due to medical reasons.

Matchday 2 of the Ghana Premier League kick-off this weekend.

Source – ModernGhana

Black Princesses Head Coach, Yusif Basigi has invited provisional squad of thirty players into the team to begin camping ahead of a friendly with the Moroccan U-20 female national team on November 26.

Players and officials of the team are to report to the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, Prampram on Thursday, November 19 and are scheduled to undergo the mandatory COVID-19 test.

Below are the players who have been invited to camp;

NAME        CLUB

Grace Baanwa       Hasaacas Ladies FC

Kerrie McCarthy   Kumasi Sports Academy

Cynthia Kolan      Pearl Pia Ladies FC

Justice Tweneboah         Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC

Tedina Sekyere     Dreams Ladies FC

Nina Norshie        Valued Girls FC

Faustina Aidoo     Hasaacas Ladies FC

Queenabel Amankrah     Hasaacas Ladies FC

Cecilia Hagan        Sea Lions Ladies FC

Evelyn Badu         Hasaacas Ladies FC

Azumah Bugre      Army Ladies FC

Jaqueline Owusu  Dreamz Ladies FC

Suzy Dede Teye    Ladystrikers FC

Peterson Kundock Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC

Fuseina Mumuni   Pearl Pia Ladies FC

Grace Acheampong        Ashtown Ladies FC

Mukarama Abdullah       Northern Ladies FC

Milot Abena Pokua        Hasaacas Ladies FC

Doris Boaduwa     Hasaacas Ladies FC

Rahama Jafar        Northern Ladies FC

Lauratu Issaka       Mfantseman Ladies FC

Faustina Akpo      Berry Ladies FC

Joyce Larbi  Kumasi Sports Academy

Abigail Tutuwa     Prisons Ladies FC

Rafia Kulchire       Hasaacas Ladies FC

Diana Antwi         Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC

Comfort Yeboah   Soccer Intellectuals FC

Sophia Dadzie      Sea Lions Ladies FC

Selina Abalansa    Soccer Intellectuals Ladies FC

Sandra Owusu Ansah     Supreme Ladies FC

By Ghanafa

Beleaguered Ghana Coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor says his side will make restitution in their future matches following a disappointing slim margin loss to Sudan.

The Black Stars below average against their opponents and conceded a goal in the closing stages of their AFCON 2021 qualifier with the Falcons of Jediane.

The loss to Sudan delays Ghana’s qualification to the AFCON tournament in Cameroon next year.

The result has been greeted with a backlash from the public who believe the team could have done better.

The defeat was the second for Stars Coach Akonnor in his 4th game in charge following his appointment in January.

Speaking in the aftermath of the game with Sudan, the former national captain has promised an improvement in subsequent matches.

He acknowledges that there were mistakes made and the necessary amendments will be effected when Ghana next takes to the field.

“What I can say is we’ll learn from the mistakes we’ve made and of course in March (2021) we have two matches coming on.

” I strongly believe and I can assure Ghanaians that we’ll do our best to qualify,” an upbeat Akonnor assured.

Ghana, with three wins out of four games still sit top of their qualifying group tied on points with second placed South Africa.

Sudan trail the two teams by 3 points occupying the third spot while Sao Tome and Principe are without a point so far.

The defeat to Sudan leaves open, the teams likely to qualify from the group to next year’s AFCON tournament.

The Black Stars have two games to play, at home to whipping boys Sao Tome as well as a trip to face the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana) will host shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Thursday December 3, 2020. The meeting which will be held virtually will be streamed live from the company’s Head office at MTN House, Independence Avenue from 11am.

The purpose of the meeting is also to seek Shareholders approval for the buyback of 1,089,630 shares from applicants who did not provide sufficient personal information to complete their Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements as required under the Company’s Initial Public Offer, and in accordance with a directive from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The meeting will also seek authorization from Shareholders for the implementation of an employee share scheme by way of an Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) for lower level staff, and an employee share scheme by way of Performance Share Plan for senior staff.  The total amount of shares subject to the Employee Share Scheme are to be allocated on an estimated share price of GHC 0.60 representing about 4.41% of the issued share capital of Scancom Plc.  This follows an agreement between the Government of Ghana, MTN Group and MTN Ghana agreed in Q1 2020 to increase local ownership in MTN Ghana by a further sale of ~12.5% shares in MTN Ghana to Ghanaians.

Speaking ahead of the EGM, the Corporate Services Executive of Scancom Plc., Mr. Sam Koranteng urged all shareholders to attend the EGM and to cast their votes on the resolutions outlined. He noted that provision had been made for Shareholders who do not have smart phones to participate in the AGM by (i) dialing +233244300025; (ii) entering the access code 8000; and (iii) entering the conference pin number 056789.  He further confirmed that a unique token number would be sent to Shareholders by email and/or SMS before the end of November 2020, to grant them access to the EGM. 

A Shareholder may appoint a proxy to attend virtually and vote on their behalf. A copy of the Proxy Form may be downloaded from www.mtnghegm.com completed, signed and submitted via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.., at least 48 hours ahead of the December 3, 2020 EGM. Shareholders who do not submit proxy forms prior to the meeting, may vote using their unique token number.

Scancom Plc. (MTN GHANA) held its second post IPO AGM virtually on August 13, 2020 during which the financial statement for 2019 was presented to shareholders and at which all special resolutions relating to the amendment of the Companies Constitution were duly passed by Shareholders. At the end of proceedings at the AGM, a final dividend of GHC. 4 pesewas for 2019 financial year was declared and paid on August 28, 2020 to shareholders.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian international, Winful Cobbinah has moved to top-flight side Ceramica Cleopatra FC in Egypt.

Since 2018, the attacking midfielder has thrived in Albania where he has been playing for Premiership side KF Tirana.

On the back of outstanding performances for the team, Winful Cobbinah helped the side to lift the Albanian top-flight title at the end of the 2019/2020 football season.

His exploits in the past two years impressed a number of clubs including top sides in some of the major leagues in Europe.

Winful Cobbinah sealed a transfer to Egyptian Premier League side Ceramica Cleopatra FC following successful talks on Tuesday.

The club recently secured promotion to the top-flight league in the North African country and wants to have the quality needed to compete in the new environment.

Cobbinah, 29, joined a number of players whose services have been secured by Ceramica Cleopatra FC and will play a key role for the club in the 2020/2021 football season.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana suffered a 90 minute 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sudan in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday due to poor goal keeping by Fatau Dauda and a weak defence marshaled by inexperienced and worn out stars.

On a day that there was no spirit in the Black Stars, they played like something was missing or there was nothing at stake.

In the absence of Dede Ayew and Thomas Partey, the Black Stars looked ordinary and they played with no strategy or plan as they wanted an away draw.

It was not surprised the defence lost concentration when the ball was floated to yield the most wanted vital goal for Sudan.

Though Ghana beat Sudan in the first leg and needed only a draw to qualify to the AFCON in 2022, the new set was not charismatic and daring to win. Five changes were made to the team that beat Sudan in the first leg at Cape Coast with skipper Andre Ayew getting a brace.

In fact coach C. K. Akunnor need to have confidence in the players he invites to the national team, and he must feature the best of the best.

Full squad:

Fatau Dauda, Nicholas Opoku, Abdul Baba Rahman, Alexander Djiku, John Boye, Afriyie Acquah, Mubarak Wakaso, Tariqe Fosu, Jordan Ayew, Caleb Ekuban, Jefferey Schlupp.

Reserves: Clifford Aboagye, Emmanuel Lomotey, Majeed Ashimeru, Ati Zigi Lawrence, Kwadwo Amoako, Joseph Aidoo, Samuel Owusu, Christopher Nettey, John Antwi.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Volta River Authority (VRA) Tennis Club duo Alfred Okang and Samuel Akotuah upset the 'Cobra boys' Ismaila Lamptey of BabooSports and his partner Bernard Nii Bortey to book their place in the Social 2 finals of The Tema Babolat Doubles Championship. The VRA duo won 1-6,6-3,10-7.

After beating Lamptey and Bortey, Okang and his partner Akotuah have the bragging rights going into the Social 2 finals. They will face Jacob Zwennes and Agyeman in the Social 2 finals. Earlier, Zwennes and Agyeman also ousted Kodon Wiafe and Coker 5-7,7-6(4), 12-10.

The Social 1 semifinal saw Former Ghana's Davis Cup players Raymond Hayford and Albert Arthur advancing into the finals after overcoming Isaac Odoom and Stephen Borteye 6-1, 6-1. In other Social 1 semifinals, Prince Ablorh and his partner Seth Mingle defeated Rahaman and Kwaku Duah 6-1,6-3.

GTF executive board member Jesse Atu Desbordes paired with Divide Kisseh to oust'Tennis Grand Master' Peter Annan and his partner Brein Benner 6-3,7-5. Jesse and Kisseh will face Former GTF board member Paa Grant and Isaac Nartey in the men's 50 plus finals.

In the Men's professional section: Japheth Bagerbaseh and his Nigerian partner Onyeka Mbanu Fred sailed through to the finals after defeating Raymond Hayford Oko/ Albert Arthur 4-1(r). Other semifinal games saw TPG No.1 Johnson Acquah pairing with Ronald Totimeh to beat Francis Gbolonyo and Daniel Quartey 7-6,7-5.

The women's  doubles semi-finals: In-Form Naa Mckorley and her partner Yvonne Bruce Tagoe won against Tracy Ampah and Shika Mckorley in a game that ended 6-3,6-2. Bruce Tagoe and Naa Mckorley will face Sakumono based Augustina Yamak and Faustina Tagoe after the duo ousted Eugenia Asigri and Lawrencia Aghorghorbia 6-4,3-6,10-5.

Bernard Yawson and Isaac Antwi upset GTF Wheelchair No.1 seed Daniel Laryea and Mclean Dzidzienyo 6-3,4-6,10-7 to advance into the wheelchair tennis finals

Story: Gabriel Amoakoh