The Women in Sports Association (WISA) will honor female handball goalkeeper Mary Dodoo in the 2023 edition of their Awards, slated for Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Accra Sports Stadium Media Center.

Miss Mary Dodoo who is the goalkeeper for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the goalkeeper for the National Under 19 team is among other 32 outstanding sports personalities to be honored at 9th Women in Sports Achievers Awards.

She caught the attention of WISA with her outstanding performance during the 2023 Zone 3 Handball Championship which was hosted by Ghana.

Miss Mary was named best player in their first game against Benin and overall best goalkeeper at the end of the tournament in the Under 19 category.

According to the President of WISA, Madam Gloria Commodore, the exploits by Miss Mary during the tournament even when she was injured and kept the post for team Ghana touched her.

"She was a delight to watch during the tournament and I believe this award will help boost the morale and encourage players in the least financed sports", Madam Commodore added.

Madam Commodore seized the opportunity to appeal to corporate Ghana to support WISA to honor more athletes going forward.

She sent her heartwarming gratitude to Ghandour Cosmetics and National Sports Authority for their support and contribution as well as the media.

WISA has been honoring excelling Ghanaian Female Sports Personalities annually.

By: Victoria Nana Adwoa Kwofie

About 100 fitness enthusiasts, made up of MTN Corporate Communications team and media stakeholders hit the streets of Legon last Saturday morning to participate in the 2023 MTN Bright Media walk.

In attendance were top personnel of MTN Corporate Services and some staff of the company and media personnel of the MTN who took time off their demanding schedules to exercise, build bonds and to socialise in an atmosphere of fun and excitement.

The 5.4km walk started from the UG Legon Botanical Gardens with members walking energetically through the TF Gate, Law School, Athletic Oval, Registry, Balme Library and back to the Law School, Pent, Evandy, TF Gate and ended at the Gardens.

Participants started arriving as early as 5:15am, for the event scheduled to commence with a health screening exercise to check blood sugar and blood pressure.

Defying the early morning showers, the walk commenced under the guidance of a physical instructor, Matthew Frimpong, who took members through their paces with specific instructions at different areas, especially the hilly stretches.

At the gardens, members were taken through an aerobic session, undertaking cardiovascular workouts, stretches and a host of other workout; followed by refreshment and awards presentation.

The event was also spiced up with a tug-of-war challenge between Print/Online media versus a Radio/TV/MTN combined team as well as a musical chairs event.

Addressing members, The Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN, Madam Adwoa Wiafe commended all for attending to make use of the platform to exercise to stay healthy.

According to her, it was important for members to take issues about their health seriously in order to reduce the number of visits to the hospital.

“Such activities, when undertaken regularly, can in a way assure us of a good health status. I understand how difficult and quite tough it is for people to engage in such workouts alone. It is the reason we must take advantage of the Bright Media Healthwalk and other events by MTN to stay healthy,” she said.

MTN Republic President, Nana Appiah Acquaye thanked citizens who attended the event in large numbers.

He commended MTN for their unwavering commitment to the collective health and well-being of citizens in bringing them together for exercise, wine, have fun and dine to fostered unity and strengthened bonds as a community.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Colorful cultural display unveils first African Para Games dubbed ‘Accra 2023’

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif on Sunday declared the first African Games dubbed ‘Accra 2023’ open amidst cultural drumming and dancing at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.

He said the President, HE Nana Akufo-Addo whp was absent is fully supportive of hosting of the Para Games in Ghana as he believes it is doable and the event is more than a sports celebration.

The Minister commended the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the first African Para Games for their hard work in ensuring that the Games come off with all personnel and logistics in place.

The President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Mr. Andrew Parsons hailed Ghana for taking the bold initiative and decision to host the first continental Para Games in Africa as organizing such events for the first time is challenging.

He assured that the IPC will invest much in Africa because there is bright future for Para Sports in Africa.

Mr. Samson Deen, President of the African Paralympic Committee (AfPC) said it is historic that after 36 years, Ghana is committed to hosting the first Games.

“I am happy to represent the interest of Africa, this is historic” he said.

He gave a brief history of the APC and its leadership, commending his past executives.

The countries represented at the opening ceremony were Algeria, Angola, DR Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The disciplines to be competed from Monday September 4 to September 12 are Wheel Chair Tennis, Wheel Chair Basketball and Amputee Football.

All the nations represented have come with their best 400 para athletes and officials hoping for an exciting and memorable event.

The Ghana Sports Supporters will be available to cheers athletes throughout the competition.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Women In Sports Association (WISA) Releases Awards Winners List For 2023

The Women In Sports Association (WISA) who have been recognizing and rewarding deserving female athletes and retired sports women have released the awardees list for the season 2023.

According to President of WISA, Madam Gloria Commodore, they conducted background checks on the nominees before coming up with the list.

She said the winners were carefully monitored and it had been so for the past nine years.

She said the Awards which is sponsored by Ghandour Cosmetics will be held on September 23 at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium.

List of 2023 WISA Awards Winners:

Ghana Fencing Team - Representing Coach Mahadi

Black Princessess - Girls Football Team Ghana

Sea Lions Football Club - Elmina, Central Region

Vida Juliet Vivie - Director/Founder, Vida Cycling Programme

Augustina Ameworlor - 12 Year Old Grass Track Cycling

Matilda Quayson - Producer/Social Media Manager GTV Sports+

Justina Owusua Kwabi - Senior Operations Officer (Technical Division) GBC

Zinabu Issah - Para-Athlete / Wheelchair Tennis Player

Patricia Nyamekye - Para Powerlifting Athlete

Amdiatu Issaka - National Para-Athlete/Wheelchair Basketball Player

Stacey Konadu Mensah - Para-Athlete/Wheelchair Tennis Player

Bridget Nartey - Para-Athlete/Wheelchair Basketball And Tennis Player

Fatima Moro - Para-Athlete/Wheelchair Lawn Tennis And Wheelchair Basketball

Rosalind Koramah Amoh - Sports Journalist/Deputy Director News, Daily Graphic

Rachel Ankomah - Rugby League Club

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)

Christine Naa Merley Ashley - National Sports Authority (NSA)

Winnifred Ntumi - Weightlifting Ghana

Augustina Baidoo - Ghana Table Tennis Player-Army

Bernice Borquaye - Ghana Table Tennis Player-Navy

Anita Wiredu-Minta - Ghana Immigration Service (Gis) Sports Unit

Trudy Mantheaw - Ghana Army, Boxing

Wisdom Boxing Club - Coach Ofori Asare (Coach)

Attoh Quarshie Boxing Club - Vincent Akai Nettey (Coach)

Evelyn Enyonam Dzato - Judo, Accra Girls SHS  /Ghana.

Mary Dodoo - Goalkeeper, Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Handball Team

Leticia Amanua Ankrah - Akotoku Boxing Academy.

Male Awardees

Coach Yussif Basigi - Coach, Black Princesses Team

Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe - Three Times Paralympian For Ghana.

Mr. Olla Williams - CEO Of One On One Foundation / Dreamland Sports Plus.

Rev. Emmanuel Djani Nikoi - President, Ghana Netball Federation.

Coach Dr. Ofori Asare - National Boxing Coach

Source WISA

Kumasi based sprinter, Sarfo Ansah who represented University of Development Studios (UDS) has won his second title as overall champion of the GNPC Ghana Fastest Human competition.

After winning the prestigious title in 2021, the Tokyo Olympic Games athlete has made it again in 2023.

He could not compete in Tokyo but trained hard and now he has done history.

Sarfo Ansah was supposed to ba member of Team Ghana to the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary but he was declared unfit and dropped, so he did not travel with the team.

However he feels happy, content and proud to be the GNPC Ghana Fastest Human for 2023 season.

He promised to make it to the next Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Meanwhile, the organisers and sponsors of the GNPC Ghana Fastest Human event have been commended by sports loving people.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

 26 years old Peter Mwaniki from Kenya will fly back home to with a whopping 75,000ghc in his account for winning the eight edition of the KGL Millennium Marathon.

He made a time of 1:03:00 beating record holder, Ishmael Arthur from the Ghana Armed Forces who placed fifth and Atia Koogo who won the Homowo Marathon taking the third position.

The Kenyan was very happy after the race as it was his first time in the Millennium Marathon.

“I am here because I have been training very hard towards this competition. This is the first time I am participating so let’s hope I come back next year,” he told me media.

Another Kenyan Sosteov Kipchirchir was second in a time of 1:4:26 while University of Education’s student-athlete, Koogo Atia placed third in 1:06:32. Philip Cheruiyot Kangogo was fourth.

In the female category, Kenya’s Lilian Lelei Jeokemboi finished first in a time of 1:11:19. Valary Aiyabei was second and Eunice Nyawira Muchri was third, Juan Jeruto was fourth and Sakat Lariba took the fifth position.

Abigail Abugri made sure the 5km winner is a Ghanaian; she has been very consistent and should be supported.

The event attracted a good patronage, but was interrupted with a downpour which some people described as showers of blessings.

WBO Africa Featherweight champion, John Laryea who took part in the 5km said it was a great experience.

Ghana Taekwondo coach Selorm Fayise, said it was a fantastic event and commended the organisers.

Nana Agyemang Prempeh congratulated all participants and the media partners. He noted that the event boasts tourism and it is now recognized by World Athletics who will rate the elite athletes.

The competition attracted people from all walks of life, including children, students and adults.

Race Director Mrs Cathrine Morton, of the Millennium Marathon Sports Company said this year’s competition has been very successful following the number of athletes who participated.

“We have had the most number of international participants for the elite runners and that shows that out race is growing, we are now on the world marathon page.”

She thanked companies who sponsored the event and called on other companies to come on board as the Millennium Marathon seeks to unearth athletes who would represent Ghana and Africa in international competitions.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

2020 Olympian, Sarfo Ansah is the champion for the 2023 GNPC Ghana Fastest Human competition following his impressive run of 10.1seconds which was hand timed. This is the second time he is winning the ultimate after 2021.

Though he could not compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games, he learnt a lot and the evidence is his name in the books as winner of the final of finals at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

He was followed by Bokpim Mustapha Alufa (10,4secs) and Salifu Gafaru (10.5secs).

Janet Mensah of the Speedsters Club won the female race in 11.5seconds. She beat Beatrice Boakye and Felicia Awudi in an exciting race.

Here are the full results:

GNPC GFH GRAND FINALE

Held At The Cape Coast Sports Stadium - 2/09/2023

Handtime Results

U15 Boys

1st. Felix Anorigiya, Nana Bosoma Athletics Club, Bono Region (11.2s)

2nd. Albert Abofla, Nana Akosua Dua Sika Brayie II, Ahafo (11.5s)

3rd. Harrison Adjei, Demo Basic School, G/ Accra (11.6s)

U15 Girls

1st. Dartey Florence, Nana Bosoma Athletics Club. Bono Region (12.4s)

2nd. Adu Bofa Lilian, OJ Athletics Club, Ashanti Region (12.5s)

3rd. Serwaa A. Ernestina, Nana Bosoma Athletics Club, Bono Region (12.6s)

U18 Boys

1st. Isaac Sarfo, OKESS, Ashanti Region (10.3s)

2nd. Ransford Addison, Nana Bosoma Athletics Club, Bono (10.5s)

3rd. Moses Mbila, Hunting Club, Ashanti Region (10.6s)

U18 Girls

1st. Florence Agyemang, Kass, Ashanti Region (12.1s)

2nd. Aisha Ibrahim, St Louis Girls Shs, Ashanti Region (12.5s)

3rd. Fulera Suleman, Nana Effah Jhs, Bono East (12.6s)

Seniors - Males

1st. Sarfo Ansah, Uds, Northern Region (10.1s)

2nd. Bokpim Mustapha Alufar, LCAC, G/Accra (10.4s)

3rd. Salifu Gafaru, Sora Club, Northern Region (10.5s)

Seniors - Females

1st. Janet Mensah, Speedsters Club, Ashanti Region (11.5s)

2nd. Beatrice Boakye, UDS, Northern Region (11.6s)

3rd. Felicia Awudi, UDS, Northern Region (11.9s)

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo will give the keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of the first African Para Games in Accra.

Akufo-Addo has been confirmed to speak at the beginning of the inaugural edition of the Games, scheduled to take place from September 3 to 12.

The Trust Sports Emporioum aka Bukom Boxing Arena is set to stage the Opening Ceremony in Ghana's capital.

The Games' Organising Committee has received a sponsorship package from Lemon Catering Services.

The deal is valued at GH₵100,000 (£6,900/$8,700/€8,000) and is due to see the company supply around 8,000 bottles of its fruit juice products to athletes and officials during the Games.

"It is a great honour to be associated with the Games," Lemon Catering Services chief executive Roseline Acheampong said.

"Being the first of its kind, Lemon Catering Services is privileged to be a sponsor of an avenue to project key talents of Para sportsmen and women while we compete for laurels.

"[We will] rejoice and share with all the great moments and downtime.

"As sponsors of this great event, we seek to provide the best, healthy and sport friendly juices and meals to bring out the best from all athletes competing."

The company is expected to provide more than 800 bottles of fresh juice every day for 10 days.

Organising Committee chairman Chris Boadi-Mensah was delighted by the partnership and took the chance to call for more sponsors.

"It would be a huge event in coming days and I call on other corporate entities to come on board to be part of history," he said, as reported by Graphic Online.

African Paralympic Committee President Samson Deen commended the company for its investment and claimed that the Games will be a success.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

The president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons, is set to touch down in Accra, Ghana before the commencement of the first-ever African Paralympic Championships kickstarts in Accra on the 3rd of September, 2023.

The much-awaited para games will be the first time Africa will be hosting such a continental gathering for an event featuring sports people with disabilities, and it’s also set to feature three sporting disciplines ranging from amputee football, wheelchair basketball, and para weightlifting.

The IPC which serves as the mother body of the African Paralympic Committee (AfPC), has closely monitored the progress made by Ghana - its hosts, and the African continent as it prepares to host the unprecedented tournament, with several visits already being made by several dignitaries from the IPC.

Accra will be hosting the rest of Africa when the tournament kicks off from the 3rd to the 12th of September, 2023, with the Ghanaian capital set to be the hub of para-sports in the next couple of weeks.

President of the IPC, Andrew Parsons, together with some members of the IPC will be arriving in Ghana on the 2nd of September, just a day before the commencement of the para-games to oversee the smooth running of the competition, one which has been projected to pave the way for the unmeasurable growth of para-sports in Africa in the next couple of years.

Source NPC Ghana

Mr. Abraham Kotei Neequaye, President of the Ghana Boxing Authority GBA has endorsed the 2023 KGL Millennium Marathon and urged all boxers and other sports men and women to join in the sports and tourism event on Saturday, September 2, 2023.

Speaking to Yours Truly on the event, he said it is very good and important and commended the organisers.

He expressed that many Ghanaians have not caught up with the idea that Marathon is for everybody that is why many people participate.

He hailed the sponsors and urged them to support the least financed sports also.

According to the GBA President he will be very happy if many boxers take part and run to build their stamina and test their speed levels.

He said the organisers of the KGL Millennium Marathon have done well as it is annual and international.

Currently the Millennium Marathon is the biggest long distance race in Ghana which attracts organisations and foreigners.

Cathy Morton, the race director said the prize for this year is a whopping 75,000ghc for the winner of the 21 km race, while there is a raffle for all participants in both the 5km and 21km with a brand new Nissan Almera at stake.

The race starts at 6.30am exactly at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, September 2 ending at the Black Star Square.

By Sammy Heywood Okine