Former Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency and Council of State member Enoch Teye Mensah (born 17 May 1946) has passed away.

The news of his demise was confirmed earlier today after news of his passing broke on Sunday, October 1. He served as Ghana’s Sports Minister for eight years from 1992 to 2000.

ET Mensah died aged 77 in South Africa after battling health issues for a period during which time he retreated from the public eye.

During his long tenure as Minister of Youth and Sports, Ghana chalked remarkable success in sports with the Under 23 Men’s Football Team- Black Meteors- becoming the first African nation to win a medal at the Olympics- (Barcelona 1992).

Ghana’s Women’s National Football team-the Black Queens- qualified to the FIFA World Cup for the first time (1999) under his watch.

In Boxing, Ghana had multiple world champions in Azumah Nelson and Ike “Bazooka” Quartey.

The elder statesman was one of the most recognized politicians in Ghana’s 4th Republic having served in many government positions for many years including his time as Minister of Education and Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

Honourable Mensah served as Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency for 20 years from January 1997 to January 2017.

He was married with seven children.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Patrons of this year’s HD+ Kids Armwrestling grand finale were wowed with high level performances and entertainment from young pullers as they ended the second edition of the thrilling  armwrestling event, the biggest youth event in the world.

About 90 pullers from five regions converged at the Bediako Hall of the GNAT building last Saturday to battle for supremacy in a top-drawer performances in various bodyweight categories for both boys and girls.

The Bono Region, Greater Accra Region, Eastern Region, Ashanti Region, and Western Region were represented by students from Junior and Senior High Schools who were full of energy from the blast of officials to the end.

The charged auditorium saw brilliant and impressive battles from the young pullers which gave the technical team a challenging time in scouting for the best from the lot.

Rachael Lankai from Sacred Heart School emerged as the winner in the girls lightweight division followed by Mabel Yeboah from Ebenezer Senior High School while Adelaide Amoah from Bedo Addo School finished third.

For the boys, Charles Cobbina from Holy Trinity School came tops after pinning Sylvester Otoo from Methodist Senior High. Leornard Tetteh from Lovia Junior finished third.

African Champion and student from Osu Salem, Blessed Abeka Nunoo was crowned the winner in the girls middleweight category followed by Naa Korkor Ackah from 32 Community while Evelyn Stevens from Nanka Bruce School finished third.

Joseph Tabel from Methodist Anglican School emerged winner in the boy’s middleweight group followed by Steven Benin from Holy Trinity School with Desmond Mensah from Bishop JHS.

The female heavyweight division had Mariam Yussif from St Louis winning followed by Naa Ayorkor Quaye from Aburi Girls while Mary-Ann Abagale also from St Louis came third.

Oliver Adams from KNUST Senior high was winner in the boy’s heavyweight division.

CEO of SES Ghana, Adelaide Abbiw-William indicated that her company is thrilled with the quality of athlete performance and the high-level interest demonstrated by the teens during the regional tour and that HD+ is happy to have helped unearthed and develop future champions.

The Makerting Manager of HD+ , Kisiwa Ashiagbe on her part revealed how thrilling the whole exercise has been thus priding in the success of the adoption of a sports discipline.

Athletes from the HD+ Armwrestling Season I and II joins the national Armwrestling academy.

The event was powered by the Ghana Armwrestling Federation with sponsorship from SES HD Plus Ghana Limited and supported by Twullium Industries, Kofikrom Pharmacy, TT Brothers, 442Media Production and BlynkxliveGH.

The final event shown on GTV Sports+ had Joy Prime, GhOne TV, GNTV Junior, Woezor TV and Asempa FM, ETV and Happy FM as partners showing weekly episodes.

Source : www.ghanaarmwrestling.com

The excitement at the Odwira Festival reached a crescendo in the late afternoon of Friday, September 29 when the Man Ghana competition reached its climax.

Scores of party-goers and revelers at the festival held in Akuapem Akropong in the Eastern Region were treated with an amazing show of power and finesse by athletes in the Man Ghana competition.

At the end of thrilling contests, light Heavyweight bodybuilder Abraham Torkornoo walked home with the biggest prize as he emerged as the winner of this year's Man Ghana.

Tokornoo came tops in the competition which had over 30 participants, seeing off popular names including James Atsu who won the middleweight category.

The female bikini competition was won by  Celestine Zometi Dogbeda won that contest became the 2023 champion.

In fulfillment of the promises made prior to the competition, all the winners received cash prizes and goodies from Fitnation and  the organizers of the 2023 Odwira Festival.

Executive Members of the Ghana Body-Building Federation  who graced the event include;  Abdul Hayye Yartey(President), George Fausta Baffoe(Vice President), Peace Edwards(Judge), Ekow Martins(Judge), Dr Samuel Agyei(Head of Technical), Christine Ashley(GeneralSecretary), Rosemary Fiadonu(Treasurer), Eric Amoako Twum, CEO of Fitnation and Clement Osei Aboagye(Media Head)

Below is the full list of winners -

Men’s Physique above 1.78cm - Above 178cm

Benjamin Yao Bledjumah

Below 178cm

Winner - Fredrick Abugah

Classic Physique

Francis Nanaberg Arthur

Bikini

Celestine Zometi Dogbeda

Light Heavyweight - Bodybuilding

Abraham Torkornoo

Middleweight

James Atsu Adadevoh

Overall Man Ghana 2023

Abraham Torkornoo

By Clement Osei Aboagye

On Saturday 30th September 2023, the Vice President, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia together with the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif commissioned the McDan Teshie Sports complex in the Ledzorkuku Constituency.

The facility adds to the 151 existing astro turfs constructed by Wembly.

The facility was spearheaded by the former Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye and funded by the McDan Group.

By Sammy Heywood Okinre

Medeama and Dreams FC fight to ensure Ghanaian clubs rejoin big boys in Africa

After years of absence, Ghana will have club representation in Africa in the 2023/24 inter-club competitions.

This has become possible thanks to the hard-fought battle of Medeama Sporting Club and Dreams Football Club.

The two clubs have qualified to compete in the group stages of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.

Medeama SC last season emerged as Champions of the Ghana Premier League. As a result, the team had the chance to compete in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

After a 5-3 aggregate victory over Horoya AC from Guinea, the Yellow and Mauve outfit are through to the group stage of the CAF top-tier inter-club competition.

Medeama SC will pocket $550,000 for reaching the CAF Champions League money zone

For Dreams FC, the team has had an impact although this is their first appearance in Africa.

The MTN FA Cup defending champions in the final preliminary round had to deal with Kallon FC from Sierra Leone.

At the end of two legs, Dreams FC have qualified for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate win.

The successes of Medeama SC and Dreams FC mean two Ghanaian clubs will be battling with the big boys on the continent in the CAF inter-club competitions in the 2023/24 football season.

Football Ghana

UNDISPUTED  champ Canelo has lost only two of his 64 fights

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez defended his undisputed super-middleweight title by beating Jermell Charlo on points.

Canelo, 33, secured a unanimous 119-108, 118-109 and 118-109 win over the American to retain his WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF belts at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Mexican knocked Charlo down in the seventh round on the way to a 60th win in 64 fights.

"I'm the best. Who's better? Nobody can beat this Canelo," he said.

Charlo, was undisputed light-middleweight champion until he was stripped of his WBO belt when the fight started.

"I worked all the fight to go in the body," said Canelo, who dropped Charlo for only the second time in his career with an overhand right followed by an uppercut.

"Then I changed the punch and that's what happened. We worked for that.

"We know he's a great fighter. He knows how to move in the ring and we worked that in the gym for three months.

"Three months in the mountains without my family, without everything.

"But I still love boxing. Boxing made me the person I am today. Boxing is my life."

Defeat was the second of Charlo's 38-fight career, having stepped up in weight.

"I just feel like I wasn't me in there," he said. "It's boxing. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

"I'm proud of myself. He didn't knock me out. He hit me with some hard shots."

Australian Tim Tszyu, who held the interim WBO light-middleweight title and was the mandatory challenger to Charlo, was elevated to champion status on Saturday once the bout began.

BBC Sport

Oliver Adams, Mariam Kadiri Moro, Naa Abeka Nunoo And Others Excel At 2023 HD+ Kids Armwrestling Championship

Naa Abeka Nunoo of Osu Salem, Rahel Lankai of Sacred Heart School, Mary-Ann Abagale and Mariam Kadiri Moro of St. Louis SHS have become popular names in Ghana Sports, especially in youth Armwrestling due to their consistency in participation of events.

They were toast of guests, media, fans and school mates at the Season 2 edition of the 2023HD+ Kids Armwrestling Championship held at the Bediako Conference (GNAT) Hall in Accra.

Mariam Kadiri Moro won the Girls Heavyweight after defeating Naa Ayorkor Quaye of Aburi Girls SHS in a thrilling showdown, Naa Abeka Nunoo was first in the Girls Middleweight, Rahel Lakai won the Girls Lightweight.

Oliver A. Adams aka Terminator grabbed the gold medal in the Boys Heavyweight when he defeated Nathaniel ‘The Punisher’ Adjei.

All the 90 athletes put up high spirited performances and proved readiness to join in the roadmap towards unearthing young talents who would represent Ghana at both national and international competitions.

The young pullers came from five regional championships namely, Bono, Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti and Western Region who’s cool and collected Joseph Tabil of Methodist SHS displayed marvelously. Daniel Acquah also put HOTCAS in the picture.

The 18 exciting winners, both boys and girls from Senior and Junior High Schools competing in the light, middle and heavyweight divisions took home 3,000ghc, 2,000ghc and 1,000ghc respectively, plus trophy, medal and goodies from sponsors, while all participating athletes got souvenirs.

President and Founder of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), Charles Osei Asibey was among the happy people for the splendid organization which was telecasted live on GTV Sports+.

He thanked the sponsors of the event, SES HD+ and decorated their CEO, Mrs Adelaide Abbiw-Williams and others including referees and teachers with medals and trophies.

She was pleased and promised to continue the partnership with GAF which brings entertainment to the kids.

“We believe that this partnership will enable more positive experiences for kids in and out of home to support the HD+ offer of safe, fun and educative kids channels in high definition pictures to TV homes in Ghana”

The HD+ Kids Armwrestling Championship is aimed at encouraging children to participate in Armwrestling and it is opened to children aged between 12 and 16 years.

Mr. Charles Osei Asibey who is Vice President of the World Armwrestling expressed that as an advocate for Education and Sports (EduSport) as well as Sports and Entertainment (Sportainment), the Federation will keep on improving on their events as they await the organization of the World Championship in Accra next year.

He thanked the media for promoting Armwrestling to become one of the popular sports in the basic and second cycle institutions.

Technical Director of the National Federation, Mr. Husseini Akuetteh Addy observed the spotting of some talents who will be selected and groomed into the National Armwrestling Youth Academy.

He announced that 2024 is going to be a busy year for the Federation as they will select some of the young pullers from the schools into the national team, Golden Arms.

The HD+ Kids Armwrestling final was sponsored by SES HD Plus Ghana Limited with support from Twellium Industries, TT Brothers, 442Sportsgh, Kofikrom Pharmacy, and Blynkxlive GH.

Media partners include GNTV Junior, Global Media Alliance, GTV Sports Plus, Woezor TV, Joy Prime and YTV.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

About 90 athletes from five regions will converge at the GNAT Hall in Accra for the finals of the second season of the HD+ Kids Armwrestling.

The finals, scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 30, is a roadmap towards unearthing young talents who would represent Ghana at both national and international competitions.

Pullers were drawn from five regional championships namely, Bono, Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti and Western Regions. A total of 18 winners from three bodyweight categories were selected from each region.

Both boys and girls from Senior and Junior High Schools competed in the light, middle and heavyweight divisions.

President and Founder of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), Charles Osei Asibey, has mentioned that the finals would be one of the best organised sporting events in the country.

He said as an advocate for Education and Sports (EduSport) as well as Sports and Entertainment (Sportainment), GAF would put up a memorable show at the GNAT Hall.

Mr Osei Asibey mentioned that the first three winners from each category would go home with a medal, cash prize and goodies from sponsors while all participating athletes would also go home with some souvenirs.

Technical Director of the National Federation, Mr Husseini Akuetteh Addy, also added that the technical team would scout for talents and groom them into the National Armwrestling Youth Academy.

He said because 2024 was going to be a busy year for the federation, they would take time to select the best from the lot and manage them to become national champions who would be recruited into the National Team, Golden Arms.

The HD+ Kids Armwrestling finals is being powered by the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, sponsored by SES HD Plus Ghana Limited with support from Twellium Industries, TT Brothers, 442Sportsgh, Kofikrom Pharmacy, and Blynkxlive GH.

Media partners for the event include GNTV Junior, Global Media Alliance, GTV Sports Plus, Woezor TV, Joy Prime and Y TV.

Source: Ghana Armwrestling

Isaac the ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe has announced via his social media handles of his imminent return to the square ring. Dogboe, currently ranked number 2 by WBC is set to face unbeaten Liverpool resident Nick Ball (18-0, 11KOs) in an eliminator bout for the WBC world featherweight title.

The former WBO Super Bantamweight champion revealed that he will be fighting come November 18 this year in Manchester, UK.

The fight will take place in MANCHESTER, UK for WBC FEATHERWEIGHT ELIMINATOR. This will be my first professional fight on British Soil” tweets Isaac Dogboe.

It must be noted that Dogboe (24-3, 15KOs) has in his professional career fought in Switzerland (pro debut), Northern Ireland, US, Ghana and New Zealand throughout his 27 fights.

His 28th fight which is scheduled to take place in November will see him fighting in Britain for the first time with the number 1 ranked Nick Ball on 18th November in Manchester, UK.

Dogboe was last seen in April this year where he locked horns with Cuban Robeisy Ramirez for the vacant WBO World Featherweight title which ended in defeat via a unanimous decision. In quest to become a 2-time as well as a 2 division World champion, the Royal Storm Dogboe has a big chance to attain that big dream like his role model Azumah Nelson did by going past the unbeaten Ball come November 18.

Nick Ball, who currently holds the WBC Silver feather strap is yet to taste a world title shot in his 18 professional fights. His first title fight (WBC silver) was against Isaac Lowe in April last year where he stopped him in the 3rd round to win the vacant silver title. He has defended it thrice with the recent being on May 27, 2023.

Isaac Dogboe must put in his best to overcome the 26 year old Brit who is poised to taste a world title shot.

The WBC World Featherweight Title is currently held by Mexican Rey Vargas (36-1, 22KOs) who currently doesnt have a fight scheduled yet.

Boxing Ghana

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 13th African Games has presented a proposed transportation plan to the Technical Committee of the African Games (TCAG).

Samson Deen, who is the portfolio head for transportation for Accra 2023, made a presentation on transportation arrangements for the Games to members of the TCAG.

Samson Deen addressing members of the TCAG and LOC members during a working session at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Friday, September 29, 2023.

“There will be a vehicle allocation for Games to ensure that transportation and movement of athletes and officials is very soon,” he said during his presentation.

Ghana will welcome over 13,000 visitors to the West African nation for the March 2024 Games.

The opening ceremony of the 13th African Games will be on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Source accra2023ag.com