Ghana’s top golfer and defending champion has taken the top position at the ongoing 2023 Gold Fields PGA Championship at Damang with a score of 69.

On the third day, he was at his best to over take Zimbabwean Visitor Mapwanya who also has a score of 69.

Nigerian Sunday Olapade is third on the sheet with a score of 66, while Vincent Torgah is at the fourth position with a score of 71.

Augustine Manasseh is fifth with a score of 73, as the captain of PGA Ghana, john Mawuli Nyarkoh moved to the sixth position with a score of 79.

Day one leader, Maxwell Owusu Bonsu has moved back to the tenth position with a score of 77.

In the seniors, Emos Korblah is in pole position, followed by Peter Korsah and Robert Allotey.

The exciting ladies category has Constance Awuni in the lead, followed by Jessica Tei, with Felicity Gyeabour at third and Mercy Werner at the fourth position.

The 2023 Gold Fields PGA Championship which ends on Saturday, December 2 is sponsored by Engineers and Planners, Genser Energy, Total Energies, Gaso Petroleum, Liebherr Ghana, Carmeuse, Barbex, Classic Cristken, and AECI Ghana.

At stake is 80,000ghc for the winner of the professional, while the seniors’ winner will collect 25,000.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Zen Garden Party Bash

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MEDIA General ONE

Zimbabwean Visitor Mapwanya has taken over the leadership of the professionals category at the 2023 Gold Fields PGA Championship in Damang with a score of 72 and total of 144.

Defending champion, Kojo Barnni of Ghana is second with a score of 70 and total of 144, while Vincent Torgah is third with a score of 72 and a total of 146.

As the men separate themselves from the boys, the competition is getting keener and more exciting.

At fourth position is Maxwell Owusu Bonsu who led on day one with a score of 79 and total of 147, while Augustine Manasseh is fifth with a score of 75 and total of 147.

Emos Korblah leads the seniors with a score of 74 and a total of 144 as Peter Korsah is behind him with a score of 80 and total of 153, while Robert Allotey takes the third position with a score of 77 and total of 155.

The ladies game is also keen with Constance Awuni leading with a score of 79, while Jessica Tei is second with a score of 86 and Felicity Okyei Gyeabour at third position with a score of 89. Mercy Afi Werner is fourth with a score of 91.

This morning, Yours Truly followed some of the golfers including chairman of the organizing committee, Hans Van-De Beer competing over 18 holes and it was really energy sapping, tedious, fascinating and competitive.

Companies sponsoring the 2023 PGA tournament are Engineers and Planners, Genser Energy, Total Energies, Gaso Petroleum, Liebherr Ghana, Carmeuse, Barbex, Classic Cristken, and AECI Ghana.

At stake is 80,000ghc for the winner of the professional, while the seniors’ winner will collect 25,000.

The ladies who are competing for the first time will not get cash, but handsome and inspiring rewards from the organisers.

The championship which is taking place on Ghana’s best and beautiful golf course at Damang ends on December 2.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has launched the 100-day countdown to the 13th Africa Games in Accra, Ghana.

The Accra 2023 Games, scheduled to take place in March next year, would see over 54 countries participating in 30 sporting disciplines.

The Vice President on Wednesday toured the Borteyman Facility in Accra together with Minister of Youth and Sports (MoYS) Mustapha Ussif, Ghana Olympic Committee President Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, Director General of National Sports Authority (NSA), Peter Twumasi, the Executive Chairman of Accra 2023, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, and other dignitaries.

The Vice President marked the countdown ceremony and included an inspection tour of the facilities under construction that would host the games, being constructed at Borteyman and the University of Ghana.

Dr. Mahamudu Bamumia highlighted the broader significance of the March 8–23, 2024 Games, extending beyond mere competition to encourage social, health, and economic benefits.

In his speech, the Vice President mentioned the government’s massive investment in sports infrastructure development,citing the construction of modern facilities at Borteyman and the University of Ghana.

He also expressed satisfaction with the work done and noted that “as we enter the final stretch in our preparation for the Games,the government, with the African Union (AU), the National Olympics Committee of Africa (ANOCA), and all the partners, will do everything possible to make our visitors feel at home.

The Vice President added that the African Games were a major avenue to highlight sports as a means to create jobs for the youth of Africa.

The Games offer the opportunity to leverage sports as a tool for comprehensive, sustainable social, cultural, and economic development.

Mr. Mustapha Ussif, Minister for Youth and Sports, noted that the country had overcome some challenges since winning the bid in 2018 to host the continental sport’s festivals.

But he stated that the determination of the government ensured its stakeholders were all aligned towards a common goal in which Ghana was fully prepared to welcome participants, officials, and fans from over 54 African countries.

He said Ghana is ready to host the best of all African games in the history of Africa.

The contractors have been tasked with delivering facilities that meet international standards.

Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, the Executive Chairman of the LOC, expressed his profound gratitude to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for spearheading Ghana’s effort to host the 13 All African Games for the first time despite its initial challenges.

He urged corporate bodies to support the government’s commitment by donating funds towards the operational costs of the LOC.  

Dr. Ofosu -Asare called on Ghanaians to support the March 2024 Games as it has immense economic benefits for the country.

He added that more than 3,000 athletes, technical officials, journalists, and global celebrities will gather in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, from March 8 to March 23, 2024, to participate in the African Games, with a television and online audience of more than 5.5 billion.

Ghana will host the games for the first time in March 2024, with 54 countries participating in 30 sporting disciplines, 8 of which will be qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

He added”the legacy we want to leave behind after the African games is one that would ensure that Accra becomes the sports hub of West Africa.

By Elizabeth A. Gyamfi

The Gold Fields PGA Championship at Damang has began on an exciting note with interesting and amazing results with Maxwell Owusu Bonsu leading the regular professionals with a score of 68 after day one.

He is followed by Yaw Barry, John Mawuli Nyarkoh, Visitor Mapwanya and Augustine Manasseh all with a score of 72.

At the sixth position is Adam Abdallah with 73, while the defending champion is seventh with a score of 74, just like Vincent Torgah and Quarshie Atiso at the tenth position.

A total of 42 regular professionals are vieing for the 80, 000ghc cash prize at stake, while the senior pro champion will take 25,000ghc.

The competition on the green lush Damang course promises to be more interesting as the days go by.

For the senior’s category which has 17 players contesting, Emos Korblah is leading with a score of 70 and followed by Peter Korsah with a score of 73 and Robert Degbe with 75. Robert Allotey is fourth with a score of 78.

Akwasi Prempeh is spotted at the ninth position with a score of 86, while Ahmed Padori is placed 13^th with a score of 92.

J.J.Harvey is at the 17^th position with a score of 98.

For the four ladies who are competing for the first time, Constance Awuni is leading with 80, followed by Mercy Afi Werner at 101, Felicity Okyei Gyeabour at 91 same as Jessica Tey.

At the opening ceremony, Chairman of the organizing committee Mr. Hans Van-De Beer predicted an exhilarating and unpredictable competition and it seems his words are coming true.

33 Ghanaians and nine foreigners from other African countries are participating.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Mr. Kwabena Yeboah, President of the Sports Writers Association Of Ghana (SWAG) has appealed to the Ministries of Youth & Sports and Finance to ensure that there are adequate funds to aid the various athletes who are going to represent Ghana at the up coming 13th African Games.

Speaking at the induction of the newly elected executive he noted that apart from football which the state invests much resources, there are the other disciplines who also need sustenance to prepare well and win medals for the nation.

According to the SWAG President it would not be nice for Ghana to host and Ghanaian athletes just participate without winning medals.

He expressed that the other disciplines are constantly crying for help and they also carry the responsibility of showcasing talent in the country, but had scanty resources from the state.

He appealed for a little fraction of resources from the state to support the other disciplines, like boxing, athletics, taekwondo, judo, arm wrestling and others.

Mr. Kwabena Yeboah noted the the slow pace of developing infrastructure for the Games must be accelerated.

He said over 24 disciplines will be competing at the Games and Ghanaians can not afford to embrace themselves at the Games with few medal as the cream dela cream of athletes from the continent and over the world will be coming to what is termed as the Olympic Games of Africa, so the Ministry of Finance must make available resources for the infrastructure development to be rapid and preparation of the teams to be top notch.

55 African countries are expected to participate at the Games, with over 3,500 elite athletes and officials, over 3,000 technical officials, journalists and global celebrates as well as over 5.5 billion online audiences.

Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Wrestling are disciplines that are going to serve as qualifiers for Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Demonstration Sports are E-Sports, Mixed Martial Arts, Pickleball, Scrabble, Speedball, Sambo and Teqball.

Non-Olympic Qualifiers include Arm Wrestling, Basketball 3x3, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate Do, Rugby, Taekwodo Olympics-Upgrade, Volleyball and Weightlifting.

The 13th African Games comes off from 8th to 23rd March, 2023 in Accra.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Mr. John Mawuli Nyarko has for the third time been elected captain of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Ghana on November 16.

Speaking to Yours Truly at Damang during the tenth edition of the Gold Fields Ghana PGA Championship, he expressed his delight and promised to serve his members with all humility and loyalty.

Mr. Mawuli Nyarko who started playing golf in 1992 as an amateur turned professional in 1995, and has been captain of the PGA since 2017.

He founded a golf academy in 2018 which currently has a membership of over 30 people with kids aged from four years and above.

He said golf is an exciting and energetic sport which must be embraced by the youth of Ghana because it is rewarding as well.

According to the staunch member of the Celebrity Golf Club who also plays at the Center of the world, the media is doing well to promote the game, however they must know the technical terms and scoring of the professional competitions.

He commended people and companies who support golf financially, and hoped that one day a Ghanaian will become an African or world champion.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The 2023 Gold Fields PGA Championship teed off on Wednesday morning at the 18-hole plush Damang Golf Course in the Western Region of Ghana.

Mr. Michiel Van Der Merwe of Gold Fields performed the ceremonial tee off and urged the players to give off their best.

At stake is a whooping 80,000ghc for the regular professional champion, while the senior pro champion will also take home 25,000ghc. The females will not receive cash prizes, but will get special gifts from the organisers and sponsors.

Thirty-three Ghanaian regular pros and nine foreign regular pros from Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe and Nigeria are competing for the title including four professional golfers who are playing playing for the first time.

Some of the top golfers expected to display are defending champion, Kojo Barnni from the Tarkwa Golf Club, Vincent Torgah, Emos Korblah, Lucky Ayisah, and Francis Torgah.

The female players are Jessica Tei from Achimota, Constant Awuni from Kumasi, Mary Werner from Celebrity and Felicity Gyeabour from Kumasi.

Mr. Hans Van-De Beer, chairman of the organising committee observed that there are many great golf players in Africa and expects an exciting tournament. He  hoped that the best players will win.

He expressed that the ambition of the PGA is to groom more professional player, especially the females.

“The tournament promises to be an exciting and thrilling with the golfers ready to go all out for the coveted trophy” said tournament director Mr. Ahmed Padori.

Companies sponsoring the 2023 PGA tournament are Engineers and Planners, Genser Energy, Total Energies, Gaso Petroleum, Liebherr Ghana, Carmeuse, Barbex, Classic Cristken, and AECI Ghana.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Newly elected SWAG executives inducted into office

The newly elected executives of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) have been sworn-in and inducted into office on Monday November 27, 2023.

The impressive ceremony took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Youth & Sports and was witnessed by the Chief Director, Mr. William Kwarteng who stood in for the Minister and the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour.

Also in attendance were Director of Finance at the Ministry, President of Ghana Athletics Mr. Bawa Fuseni, Hon Kwadwo Baah Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Digital Center, Mr. Gabriel Asante Bosumpim, a member of the Ghana Media Commission and Mr.William Frederick Blick, a member of the Ugandan Olympic Committee.

The seamless and efficient SWAG elections through E-Voting saw President Kwabena Yeboah, General Secretary Charles Osei Asibey and Augustine Ohene-Bampoe Brenya retaining their positions, while Vice President Evelyn Nsiah Asare, Treasure Owuraku Nsiah, Deputy General Secretary Kenneth Odeng Adade  and executives Tilda Elinam Acorlor and Franklin Anane Gyimah coming on board the new executive. Mavis Amanor aka ‘Fire Lady’ is the new Women’s Commissioner.

The Chief Director at the Ministry of Youth & Sports commended SWAG for the role they have played as a key partner in sports development and continue to in the promotion and progress of Sports in Ghana, especially organizing the SWAG Awards which cut across many disciplines for over 48 years.

He urged the SWAG to do all within their means to support and motivate the Black Stars to bring back their shining character, win the next AFCON and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He noted that the nation will be very busy with sports activities in the coming year as Ghana prepares for the AFCON ‘23 in Cote d’Ivoire in January, host the 13^th African Games in March, and organize for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in July / August.

He appealed to the media to support in projecting and declaring Accra, the capital of Ghana as a ‘City of Sports’.

Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the GJA who conducted the swearing-in also hailed the past executives for guarding SWAG religiously and spoke about challenges facing the media industry, especially sensationalism and fake news which can lead to danger national security, as well as the failing standards of some mushroom media outfits, which tarnish the image of the entire media.

He said as journalists, they should be loyal to the citizens and always go by the truth.

He also challenged the SWAG to put the sports federations on their toes, criticizing positively while commending those doing well to win medals and laurels for the nation.

“It is about time the SWAG and Ministry of Youth and Sports work together to change the narrative and see more positive improvements in Ghana Sports” he expressed.

President of SWAG, Mr. Kwabena Yeboah who is striding in his third term thanked all the loyal and committed members of the Association and urged them to remain resolute in discharging their duties as the fourth estate of the realm.

He recalled the formation of SWAG which is now 55 years, and the able leadership of past presidents and executives like first President Mr. Joe Lartey, Mr. Willie Kwarteng, Mr. Oheneba Charles, Mr. Joe Aggrey and Mr. Ackah Anthony.

He appealed to the Ministry of Youth & Sports to support not only football but other disciplines usually termed as the least finances sports as most of them are capable of winning laurels for the nation with their capabilities like athletics, boxing, taekwondo, judo and arm wrestling.

He noted the the African Games is dear to many sports journalists and appealed to the Ministry so that the pace of building infrastructure should be rapid and efforts must be made to ensure that Ghanaian athletes not only participate but compete to win many medals.

He promised that SWAG will continue to sharpen the skills of members with seminars locally and internationally.

All the new executives’ whose term end in November 2027 were presented with certificates.

Out of a total of 266 eligible voters (in good standing), 193 cast their ballots to elect new leaders for the association on Saturday, October 21, 2023 through the innovative E-Voting.

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana currently has over 900 members.

By Sammy Heywood Okine