Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Chef D'Mission; Mr Isaac Dua and other high ranking members of the Ghana Olympic Committee, will pay a special visit to the camp of the National Boxing Team Black Bombers & Hitters at their residential camping base,Trust Sports Emporium at Mudor, Accra.

The officials will witness the team's preparation towards the upcoming Africa Olympic Boxing Qualifiers scheduled for Dakar-Senegal from 9th to 15th September, 2023.

The team is hanbled by coach Dr. Ofori Asare assisted by Vincent Akai Nettey and others.

The President and Executives of the GBF will be present on Thursday, 31st August, 2023 at 10:00am

The Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) invites the sport media outlets for a special overage.

Source GBF

George Lamptey Donates To Black Bombers As They Prepare For Olympic Qualifiers

Former President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) Mr. George Lamptey has presented assorted drinks and toiletries to the national boxing team, the Black Bombers as the begin residential camping at the Bukom Boxing Arena.

Mr. George Lamptey who is a Board Member of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and a Technical Officer of the International Boxing Association (IBA) said it was his token donation to motivate the boxers and keep them in high hopes to go to Senegal and qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Lamptey who was at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo when Ghana won the only bronze for Africa in boxing said the new Black Bombers are capable of doing better if they would be motivated.

“I have hope in the Black Bombers, I believe in the team, they are capable, they can win more medals for Ghana, I wish them well and I pray for success” he said.

He was happy to see light heavyweight, Seth Gyamfi aka Freezy Macbones in the team.

The items were received by Mr. Dauda Fuseni, Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) who appealed other individuals and companies to support the Black Bombers.

Present at the presentation were members of the Amateur Boxing fraternity.

Some popular names in the team are Ornela the female boxer based in the USA, Wahid Omar, Theo Allotey, Abraham Mensah and Joseoh Commey aka ‘Jaguar’.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Chartered Institute Of Realtors Launched In Accra By Akosua Frema Osei-Opare

The Chartered Institute of Chartered Realtors has been launched by the Chief of Staff at the seat of government, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare who was special guest of honor at the short but impressive event at the African Trade Center on Wednesday.

She said the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo is excited about the presence of the Chartered Institute of Realtors (CIR) and their contribution to the socio economic development of the nation.

She was honest in agreeing to some defects, and promised that the government is acting with a strategy to resolve housing and road construction problems.

She expressed that the serves as a useful platform for safe and sound Real Estate business with urban population increasing at a rate of 75%..

She named a few government projects to solve the defects like the Marine Drive and 8,000 Affordable Housing Unit under construction.

Akosua Frema Osei-Opare welcomed the Chartered Institute of Realtors and called for public / private sector collaboration in the industry.

She assured of government support to fulfill the mission of establishing a professional body of Real Estate operators and declared the CIR duly launched.

Present was the Minister of Works and Housing, Hon Francis Asenso Boakye, the Minister of Education, Hon. Yaw Osei Adutwum nd and George Mireku Duker, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

They supported the initiative of introducing professionals to train people in the vast industry which include residential, commercial and industrial operators.

Mr. Firas Jaber, CEO of the Institute justified the need like all professional bodies such as Marketing, Accountants, Lawyers and others.

He noted that life depends on Real Estate which is the basis of Tourism.

He said the CIR is to offer professional service and training aimed at a global scale, with high quality training and learning to meet international standards.

He expressed that their mission will include seminars and workshops on topical issues in the industry. He hinted that their courses include Real Estate Taxation, Principles Of Surveying, Asset Management, Real Estate Pricing, Real Estate Development and Property Insurance.

“We believe in growth, excellence and adherence to professional practices on the side of both the industry and the active players involved, raising up leaders who become agents of positive change” he added.

Dr. Rebecca Atswe Lomo commended the leadership and advised them to beware of fraudsters and scammers in the Real Estate business.

The Institute is being established to offer opportunities for sharpening the knowledge, skills, standards, and experiences of practitioners in the real estate industry to meet global standards. Real Estate in Africa is a rapidly growing industry with many opportunities for investment.

This growth rate is driven mainly by urbanization, population growth, and increased foreign investment.

All around the world, specifically the economically advanced countries, real estate has been a driving force in their development agenda and has provided jobs for several thousands of people with diverse skill sets and backgrounds.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, and New York, to mention just a few are famed for their architectural prowess and have become some of the world’s most visited destinations thanks to Real Estate.

Africa has not been left behind with all these developments happening around it. From its blurry past, it can be said that the future of Africa looks promising with the involvement of the government in providing housing for its citizens, particularly the low-income sector of society to alleviate the burden of shelter as a basic need.

The ceremony attracted dignitaries from the highest office of the land, members of the Diplomatic Corps, other state personalities, and key stakeholders that include real estate developers both local and international, suppliers, construction firms, investors, major banks within the real estate industry and media.

Boxing icon Professor Azumah Nelson was one of guests at the event.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he would "encourage" a bid from Budapest for the Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has encouraged Budapest to bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games after a World Championships here which set "a new blueprint", and offered praise for controversial Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Hungary is thought likely to rekindle its interest in staging the Games for the first time in 2036, although at this stage the Government claims it has not officially committed to this.

It previously failed with bids for 1916, 1920, 1936 and 1960, and a proposal for 2024 was scuppered after the civil organisation Momentum Movement secured enough signatures for a referendum of Budapest residents.

The city has emerged as a destination for major sporting events, of which the World Athletics Championships at the new National Athletics Centre which concluded yesterday was the latest.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Coe, who led a successful bid from London to stage the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, expressed his belief Budapest would be a strong contender to stage the 2036 edition.

"I can speak on behalf of track and field," Coe said.

"Of course, we have seen the highest quality of athletics performance and delivery, and this is an ambitious city and ambitious country.

"I have no reason to doubt that they would put up a very credible bid if it was entertained through the current bidding process of the International Olympic Committee.

"I would encourage them."

At least 10 countries are reported to be interested in staging the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics.

As with Brisbane for 2032, it is set to be awarded under the IOC's new approach whereby its Future Host Commission identifies and proposes its preferred candidate to the Executive Board, which can then enter targeted dialogue.

IOC President Thomas Bach, left, held a three-hour meeting with authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, right, during the World Athletics Championships ©IOC

IOC President Thomas Bach was in Budapest from Friday (August 25) for the World Championships, and held a three-hour meeting with Orbán during his visit.

The IOC reported this had discussed "Hungary's contribution to world sport, the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the current geopolitical situation".

Hungarian honorary IOC member Pál Schmitt accompanied Bach during the meeting.

More than 400,000 tickets were sold for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, and television viewing figures of more than one billion people have been reported.

It was the first World Championships for which hosting rights were awarded during Coe's Presidency, which began in 2015.

He said he "can't really remember a better atmosphere at the World Championships", and credited the Organising Committee, Budapest and Orbán.

"If you're going to go to a country, it's always quite sensible to find or pick a Prime Minister that really does get sport, and in Viktor Orbán we couldn’t have had more support both at a local and national level," Coe said.

Coe revealed discussions had taken place with the Hungarian Government and Institute for Sport to create a permanent World Athletics centre of coaching excellence at the National Athletics Centre.

Authoritarian leader Orbán has served as Hungarian Prime Minister since 2010 and overseen a sporting revival in the country.

He has been accused of an erosion of democracy and human rights in the country, with particular concern over his attitude towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) people.

Sebastian Coe said Budapest had

Sebastian Coe said Budapest had "created a new standard for our outdoor World Championships" ©Getty Images

There is also growing domestic criticism over his economic record, with Hungary recording a European Union-leading inflation rate of 17.6 per cent on the year as of last month.

Coe has previously claimed "I’ve never been involved in a sport that’s gone anywhere, particularly into challenging environments, where it has left that society politically, culturally, socially worse off".

Coe claimed Budapest had set the benchmark for the World Championships.

"Together with the Budapest Organising Committee we have created a new standard for our outdoor World Championships going forward," he said.

"It is the new blueprint.

"We have seen full stadia which creates an electric atmosphere, we have had the highest ever number of participating athletes, we have witnessed jaw-dropping and nail-biting performances, and we have had huge audiences as a result.

"Innovation has been a driving force for these Championships.

"They have had more innovation embedded in them than we have seen in the last decade.

"From a medal plaza where athletes are treated like rock stars, to the awarding of coaches’ medals, striking branding that can be seen across the city, and a clear sustainability vision.

"This is a World Championships city and a country with a long-term, ambitious vision for sport and legacy that goes way beyond a nine-day competition."

By Patrick Burke

Lina Energy Tea Supports Teshie Homowo Football Festival

Dr. Caesar has donated 100 cartons of Lina Energy Tea to the people of Teshie during the special 2023 Homowo Celebration football match at the Teshie Salem Park.

Dr. Benard Okoe Boye received the products on behalf of the chiefs and elders of Teshie.

He adviced that they should enjoy the festival with care, especially consider what they eat and drink.

He also recommended Lina Energy Tea to the people of Teshie, especially the elderly and the sports men and women.

Dr. Okoe Boye thanked Dr. Caesar on behalf of the people of Teshie.

Hon.Dr. Okoe Boye who is a footballer took part in the match against which was played between the youth of Teshie and Nungua to create peace and unity among the people.

An oldies curtain raiser entertaining match ended goalless, while the youth of Teshie beat the young lads of Nungua 1-0.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The National Sports College [NSC], Winneba, will organise a four-day certificate course in Sports Governance and Leadership from October 01-05.

The course would be done in five zones namely Winneba, Kumasi, Tamale, Ho, and Accra.

Mrs Florence Adams, head of the Public Relations Unit at the College, explained that the programme would serve as a refresher course for sports administrators across the country.

She said they had targeted the Security Services Sports Association, Secretary-Generals of the various National Federations, Officers from the National Sports Authority, Ghana Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee and Administrators from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

She, however, added that the programme was opened to the public and anyone interested or had the desire to take up sports management and administration in the future.

She mentioned that the course content would include sports governance landscape, Developing effective governance structures in sports organizations, Transparency in sports, Accountability in sports and Professionalism in sports.

Other areas to be considered are Building effective relationships with stakeholders, scope of sports leadership, leadership principles in sports organizations, leadership competencies in sports organizations, sport leadership and team dynamics, and leadership models in sports.

Resource persons for the course would also be Dr. Daniel Apaak from the University of Cape Coast and Dr. Austin Luguterrah from the University of Ghana and University of Education, Winneba.

The PRO stated that as Ghana was preparing to host the Africa Games, it was necessary for the College as part of its mandate to groom sports managers and administrators for the effective run of the Games.

She said the course will in the long run boost the human resource capacity of the sports ecosystem in the country.

Mrs Adams mentioned that the fee for the course was pecked at GH1,200 and will take care of tuition, accommodation and feeding, and course materials like a certificate of completion, a branded polo shirt and stationery.

She noted that registration was ongoing, and that interested people could contact the NSC on 0244936765 for enquiries.

The National Sports College [NSC, Winneba] was established by the erstwhile PNDC Government in 1984 under S.M.C. Decree No.54, 1976.

At the time of its establishment, Ghana’s performance in sports at the international level was experiencing a downward slide because of the exodus of the sectors technical and human resource for greener pastures.

The College accordingly was charged with the responsibility of training and re-training the country’s technical and human resource in the Sports sector to fill the vacancies created by the exodus of trained and skilled officials to sustain the development and promotion of Sports in Ghana.

www.sports24ghana.com

The role of defenders in a football team is very critical, as they are the bedrock of a team. A leaky and unstable defense can cost the whole team.

Chase FC 17- year old, Bismark Owusu Osei is one of Ghana's emerging young full-backs due to his immense pace, eye for air ball, dribbling, work ethic, versatility, and creativity. Typical of a modern-day full-back, Bismark loves overlapping and has been on fire this season.

In series of friendly matches across Tema and other major cities in Ghana , Bismark has scored some spectacular goals and followers of football can easily remember his fine hat trick strikes against Kengin F.C  at the Apenkwa Park which were all free kicks  . Bismark once scored a splendid goal in a third division league match against Dasys F.C after a striking from the center of the field straight into the net. That goal was described by many within the football fraternity as one in a million to have been scored in Ghana football.  NHe has precision with ball delivery and passes.  He is very good with giving long passes from his defensive zone to strikers a d forwards in the 18-yard box

Due to his stellar performance in the Tema Division 3 League, several top sides in Europe are currently tracking him for a possible transfer with a trial opportunity. He terrified strikers and forwards and made is difficult for them to put the ball pass him. He has precision with ball delivery and passes.  He is very good with giving long passes from his defensive zone to strikers a d forwards in the 18-yard box.

Source Johnny Quartey

UK based Ghanaian Light Heavyweight Boxer; Freezy Macbones aka Seth Gyimah has landed in the Ghanaian capital Accra.

The highly rated fighter who was also courted by Boxing UK, has been given the green light to participate in the upcoming African Qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.

After choosing to fight for his country of birth Freezy Macbones will be traveling to Senegal where he must win in his weight division before he can book Ghana's ticket to the Olympic Games next summer.

It was a tearful and emotional reunion with his family at the Kotoka International airport as tears trickled down his cheeks. Freezy said;

" It's great to be back home after so many years. I have a big assignment coming up in Senegal and by the grace of God I'll make Ghanaians proud. Thank you all so much for your love and support".

The boxer was met on arrival by the President of Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation Bernard Quartey and his executives.

Also present were media moguls Abeiku Santana aka Mr Tourism of Despite Media and Yaw Ampofo Ankrah who doubles as Communications Director of the Ghana Olympic Committee.

Freezy was accompanied by his road manager Thaddeus Adomako who is an upcoming music talent promoter in the UK.

One of his biggest fans Sharaf Mahama also came to welcome his idol at Kotoka.

The boxer has already joined his Black Bombers colleagues in camp as he steps up intensive training ahead of the African Boxing Championships in Senegal.

Source : African Media Channel

The World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023 came to a close on Sunday, after nine days of thrilling action with Team Ghana coming home empty handed.

Before the championships took off in the Hungarian capital, there were hopes that Rose Yeboah, James Dadzie, Joe Paul Amoah and Deborah Acquah would shine, but it was a disaster as they got injured and could not perform.

The last hope was the 4x100m relay which Ghana can make a finals berth, but they could not raise a squad due the the injury of Amoah and Dadzie, so they others went just a tourists.

Before the team went to France for training and then to Budapest, there were hiccups and denial of visas to some athletes and officials,

Those who had the opportunity to travel to represent Ghana were Joseph Paul Amoah, Deborah Acquah, James Dadzie, Isaac Botsio, Aziz Mohammed, Solomon Diafo, and Edwin Gadayi.

Female high jumper, Rose Yeboah was left because her passport was due to expire.

James Dadzie and Joseph Paul Amoah could qualify in the men’s 200m race, same as Deborah Acquah in the women’s long jump due to injuries.

Team Ghana could not take part in the 4x100m race, dening Edwin Gadayi, Isaac Botsio the chance to show the world what they can do.

Long-distance runner Aziz Mohammed and Florence Agyeman were not seen in the 1500m and 400m races.

For Rose Yeboah, who is the current national record holder in women’s high jump, it was just sad she did not feature at the championship despite securing qualification due to visa denial, as well as Sarfo Ansah, who was also denied.

A total of 23 countries won gold medals in Budapest; five of them from Africa won nine gold medals, 26 countries won silver medals and 24 won bronze medals.

In all 46 of the 195 countries that participated in the championships won medals but Ghana is not one of them.

The championship saw superstars of the sport added to their legacy and new stars emerged as global champions.

A record total of 2100 athletes from 195 countries (plus the Athlete Refugee Team) have competed in the Hungarian capital, watched by more than 400,000 ticketed spectators from 120 countries, and producing one world record, one world U20 record, seven championship records, 11 area records, and 73 national records.

The heightened competitiveness provided enormous drama in the field events in particular, where 13 athletes across eight events recorded their best mark in the final round of competition to improve their positions, five of them clinching the gold medal.

Meanwhile, US sprinters Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, Kenyan middle distance diva Faith Kipyegon, Dutch 400m hurdles specialist Femke Bol, and dominant Spanish walkers Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez emerged as multiple title winners.

Lyles claimed the 100m and 200m double and anchored the USA men’s 4x100m relay team to victory, while Richardson set a championship record of 10.65 to win her first global title in the 100m, then anchored the USA team to a second championship record in the women’s 4x100m relay.

Kipyegon clinched a historic double, becoming the first woman to win both the 1500m and 5000m at the World Athletics Championships after breaking the world records over both distances this year.

Martin (20km and 35km race walk) and Perez (20km and 35km race walk) completed the first gold medal sweep of the race walks programme by one country, Spain.

Bol completed a drama-filled nine days by anchoring the Dutch women’s 4x400m team to a last-gasp victory in the final event, having fallen within meters

of the finish line in the 4x400m mixed relay on the first night and won her first individual world title in the 400m hurdles in between.

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas won her fourth world triple jump title, while Lyles (200m), Kipyegon (1500m), Joshua Cheptegei (10,000m), Grant Holloway (110m hurdles) and Karsten Warholm (400m hurdles) have each won three titles in their core event.

Budapest 2023 statistics

Records

1 world record (United States in the 4x400m mixed relay - 3:08.80)

1 world U20 record (Roshawn Clarke, Jamaica, in the 400m hurdles - 47.34)

7 championship records (Ryan Crouser, USA, in the shot put - 23.51; Daniel Stahl, Sweden, in the discus - 71.46; United States in the 4x400m mixed relay - 3:08.80; Sha'Carri Richardson, USA, in the 100m - 10.65; Shericka Jackson, Jamaica, in the 200m - 21.41; María Perez, Spain, in the 35km race walk - 2:38:40; United States in the 4x100m relay - 41.03)

11 area records :Africa: Cote d’Ivoire,  in the 4x100m relay - 41.90

Asia: Ernest John Obiena, Philipines, in the pole vault - 6.00; India in the 4x400m relay - 2:59.05; Kemi Adekoya, Bahrain, in the 400 meters hurdles - 53.56, 53.39 & 53.09

Europe: Matthew Hudson-Smith, Britain, in the 400m - 44.26

NACAC: United States in the 4x400m mixed relay - 3:08.80

Oceania: Jemima Montag, Australia, in the 20km race walk - 1:27:16

South America: Brian Daniel Pintadol, Ecuador, in the 35km race walk - 2:24:34; Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, Colombia, in the javelin - 65.47

73 national records

22 world-leading performances

Medals and placing

23 countries won gold medals

26 countries won silver medals

24 countries won bronze medals

46 countries won medals

71 countries finished in the top 8

Countries from all six areas won gold medals:

Africa – 9 gold from 5 countries

Asia – 3 gold from 3 countries

Europe – 16 gold from 9 countries

NACAC – 20 gold from 4 countries

Oceania - 1 gold from 1 country

South America – 1 gold from 1 country

Other firsts

Neeraj Chopra won India’s first gold medal, in the men’s javelin.

Hugues Fabrice Zango won Burkina Faso’s first gold medal, in the men’s triple jump.

Ivana Vuleta won Serbia’s first gold medal, in the women’s long jump.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (bronze) became the first African man to win a medal in the 100m.

Haruka Kitaguchi became the first Japanese athlete to win the women’s javelin and has the opportunity to defend her title before her home crowd in Tokyo in 2025.

Canada won both hammer throw titles, and four gold medals in total, for the first time.

Ernest Obiena’s silver in the men’s pole vault is the best result for the Philippines at the World Championships.

First medals for Pakistan (Arshad Nadeem’s silver in the men’s javelin) and the British Virgin Islands (Kyron McMaster’s silver in the men’s 400m hurdles).

Highest ever placing (first top eight) for Lesotho (Tebello Ramakongoana’s fourth in the men’s marathon) and St Lucia (Julien Alfred’s fourth in the women’s 200m and fifth in the 100m).

First shared gold at the World Athletics Championships – Katie Moon (USA) and Nina Kennedy (AUS) in the women’s pole vault (also shared bronze medal in the men’s pole vault – Chris Nilsen (USA) and Kurtis Marschall (AUS)).

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Sarah Lotus Asare Breaks Into Boxing Match Making

Sarah Lotus Asare is a daughter of Ghana’s top boxing coach, Dr. Ofori Asare who has followed the game since her childhood, but she broke into the ranks of Match Making recently and was given a license by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) to operate.

Her debut as a Match Maker was last Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Accra Sports Stadium when the Wisdom Boxing Promotions organized the ‘Boxing Fundraiser For Education’.

She said it was not easy considering the financial pressures, but she is determined to make a mark, with the inspiration and motivation from her daddy and others like Yours Truly who encourage her a lot.

Miss Sarah Lotus Ofori is a trained Tourism Operator, but she is blessed to know other things in addition to her profession, and coming into boxing deeply has opened her horizon and she wants to get more females to join her.

She attended the University of Ghana, Legon, was at the  Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, and holds Master of Philosophy.

She is the brain behind the annual Girls Box Tournament which involves only female boxers in a classic programme to get boxers into the national team.

She is also the African Representative of World Boxing Council (WBC) Cares, which has stimulated her to go beyond her limits to venture into real boxing business.

She told Yours Truly that doing administration work for Wisdom Boxing and the Greater Accra Boxing Association (GABA) is only the beginning of greater things to come.

“I really love boxing, I have the passion and I have come to learn that boxing involves many things. It is not only about the two people in the ring, it also involve medics or medical people, legal, marketing, protocol, catering, fashion, security, media and others. I am learning very fast and beyond the sky is where I want to go” she expressed.

According to Sarah, the experience and knowledge of her father who started as an amateur boxer and became a trainer, going to big events like the African, Commonwealth and Olympic Games taught her several things.

She has worked with many boxers at the Wisdom Boxing Club (WBC), some begun as minnows and became heroes.

“At Wisdom, we train the boxers in all aspects of life, including how to dress and how to talk to journalists because the media work with us” she stressed.

She thanked all boxers who have passed through WBC, and urged the upcoming young boxers to learn and train hard to achieve their dreams and goals.

Wisdom Boxing Promotions in collaborations with Making Learning Happen (MLH) staged the boxing night which was headlined by the exhibition fight between businessman Sulemana Abubakar and Mohammed Haruna, a rising star boxer, product of Wisdom who has won all his two professional bouts.

By Sammy Heywood Okine