The 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season has been scheduled to kick off on September 20, 2023, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have announced.

The matchday one will kick off on Wednesday at the various venues.

Medeama SC who are the champions of the 2022/23 season will hope to improve their performance to defend their title.

Meanwhile, King Faisal, Tamale City and Kotoku Royals suffered relegation from the top flight.

Nations FC, Heart of Lions and Bofoakwa Tano have been promoted to the topflight from the Division One League.

The Premier League fixtures are expected to be announced later this month.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana winger Osman Bukari has been granted Serbian citizenship by the government.

He will receive his Serbian passport when his returns from pre-season training in Russia.

Osman won't switch to play for Serbia but will not be considered a foreigner at Red Star.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Bulldog, a student of Abakrampa SHTS, won the exciting Elmina Bakatue Festival Pillow Fight Championship, held at the Elmina Castle Beach in the Central Region.

The competition which attracted a large crowd was organized by Pillow Fight Ghana in collaboration with the Elmina Traditional Council and Dreamland Sports Plus, as part of the 2023 Bakatue Festival.

The competition saw six skilled men displaying antics and styles in Pillow Fighting, the new sport gaining popularity in communities and schools.

Fight One: Isaac Opare vs. Raphael - In the opening bout, Isaac Opare squared off against Raphael. After a fierce exchange of pillow strikes, Raphael emerged as the victor, showcasing his strength and skill.

The contestants were James Mensah, Isaac Essel, Adams,  Bulldog, Edward Mensah, Alfred Prah, Raphael, James Mensah aka "Gogo"

James Mensah lost to Edward Mensah in the third place match.

The final was between Bulldog and Raphael Ansah.

Bulldog displayed agility, precision, and strength in his pillow-fighting to become the undisputed champion of the Bakatue Festival Pillow Fight Championship, cementing his place in history, as he was handed the beautiful title belt.

The participants were awarded products from Oct Group Company Ltd and  Bel Acqua.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2016)

Elmina, also known as Edina by the local Fante, is a town and the capital of the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem District on the south coast of Ghana in the Central Region, situated on a bay on the Atlantic Ocean, 12 kilometres (7+1⁄2 miles) west of Cape Coast. Elmina was the first European settlement in West Africa and it has a population of about 40,000 people.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Ghana Fencing Association expresses heartfelt appreciation to Japan Motors for their invaluable support in organizing one of the biggest African Fencing championships.

“Japan Motors' generous sponsorship and partnership allowed talented fencers from across Africa to compete on a grand stage, promoting sports and leaving a lasting impact on the fencing community”.

“Their support demonstrated belief in the potential of fencing in Ghana, fostering sportsmanship, skill development, and international collaboration. Thanks to Japan Motors' involvement, the championship became a remarkable showcase of talent, sportsmanship, and cultural exchange, raising the profile of fencing in Ghana and across Africa”.

“The Ghana Fencing Association extends deep gratitude and hopes for a long-lasting partnership as they continue to grow and develop fencing in Ghana” said President Mahadi.

Japan Motors has once again approved air ticket support for the Ghana Fencing senior national team participating in the senior World championships in Milan from July 20th to 30th, 2023.

This event forms part of the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers. President of the Ghana Fencing Association, Mr. Mohammed Mahadi, thanked the management of Japan Motors, especially the Executive Director, Nouhad Kalmoni for their generous support to the Association since 2013.

Source Ghana Fencing Association

World Kickboxing Champion Steavano Tuekpe calls on NSA boss

International Chinese Boxing Organization (ICBO) K1 90+kg title holder, Ghana's Steavano Kojo Tuekpe today paid a courtesy call on Professor Peter Twumasi, Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) at his office at the Accra Sports Stadium.

He was accompanied by his wife, Alexandria, 6 year old son Dean and experienced sports journalist, Sammy Heywood Okine aka General One who is also Deputy Communications Director of the Ghana Olympic Committee.

The Germany based Tuekpe informed Professor Twumasi about the impending 2023  African Open Tournament coming up at the Korea Sports Complex at Tema Community 3 on Friday and Saturday.

He said five disciplines, namely Taekwondo, Judo, Karate Do, Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) would be featured in the two day tournament, and it is an opportunity for Ghanaian combat athletes to display their talents and win special prizes.

He announced that the outstanding and most disciplined athletes will go home with attractive equipment and brand new phones.

Professor Twumasi who was very impressed with the gesture of the world champion commended his efforts and promised him of the support of the NSA to develop, promote and encourage the least finance sports.

He wished Tuekpe success in his title defence in December.

Alexandria also promised to bring sports equipment to Ghanaians especially for deprived areas in the hinterlands.

Mr. Sammy Heywood Okine, the experienced versatile sports journalist and consultant said as Ghana plans to host the 13th African Games and prepare for the Olympic Games, the best athletes should be engaged in competitions and encouraged.

He noted that the annual African Open Tournament will be another avenue to network and gain experience. He officially invited the DG of the NSA who is an aspiring Member of Parliament as a special guest of honour to the event.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana Adaptive Boxing Federation is a newly formed governing body for the sport of Para‐Boxing in Ghana. The Federation is committed to developing Para‐Boxing as a national sport, from the recreational to elite level, supporting establishment of regulation and best practices. The body serves as a democratic hub for national Para‐Boxing gyms, clubs and supports the growth of regulation and sport safety in the country by providing rules, regulations and governance, structured progression pathways, educational systems and licensing, which are developed democratically through the Federation’s elected board, expert committees and member platforms.

This process is a pathway towards promoting Adaptive Boxing into becoming a recognized Paralympic sport whose ultimate objective is the same as highest formal recognition possible for any sport. Recognition is even more critical for the safeguarding of Para‐Boxing’s participants worldwide. The challenges for Para‐Boxing are great, but so are the opportunities, and the sport should have no lesser ambition.

The ultimate goal for any disabled sportsperson is to represent their country in in international competitions of the Paralympics is not an exception. However, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) says wheelchair boxing can only be considered for Paralympic participation if it meets the right criteria. "I'm interested to see what it has to offer," said Craig Spence, Director of communications at the IPC.

A team of Executives from the Ghana Adaptive Boxing Federation (Para‐Boxing, Ghana) led by  Mr. Collins Kofi Zoiku (Founder), Mr. Abubakar Samba (President) and Mr. Musah Toloba (2nd Vice President) paid a courtesy call to the President of National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC‐Ghana) Mr. Samson Deen and his team on 6th July, 2023.

The meeting was to formally request for Recognition and Affiliation to the NPC‐Ghana, the Supreme governing body of all sports concerning persons with disability in Ghana.

WHAT IS PARA‐BOXING / WHEELCHAIR BOXING?

Adaptive sports provide a platform for athletes with disabilities to perform at the highest level. Out of this, the idea of Para and, or Wheelchair Boxing was nurtured. Para or Wheelchair boxing is an adaptation of BOXING for the physical challenged athletes. It is not merely for recreation but also added advantage of health benefits, harnessing of experiences through competitions and participations in elite platforms, financial gains through winnings and sponsorships, leading to a more competitive environment and athletes wanting to achieve the highest levels of performance and skills, as defined according to Physiopedia.

The main world governing body is the International Adaptive Boxing Federation (IABF); founded in Canada by Aaron Kinch (Canada), Collins Kofi Zoiku (Ghana), Kanika Chaudhary (India), Joost Van de Lee (Netherlands), Olando Farias Perez (Argentina), Abel Al Rahman Salameh (Jordan) and Ben Griffin (USA).

Para‐Boxing is the world’s fastest growing Parasport with an estimated 2.3 million followers across the globe. It has a modern classification system that recommends pairing of physical challenged athletes on an even playing field seated in special wheelchairs with wide range of wheelchair belts, lap belts, and support straps to enable versatile, abdominal support, and also securing the legs around the thighs or calves for more intense maneuvering in the ring.

The Rules of the game are similar to that of mainstream boxing. The competitors are classified according to the levels of their disabilities and can compete in 6 different weight categories. The system also adopts a point scoring system that measures the number of landed clean blows devoid of causing physical damage to competitors. Bouts consist of three rounds of two minutes in every round, and each with a one‐minute interval between rounds.

As adopted from the main stream AIBA Olympics rules, Competitors wear protective headgear and gloves with a white strip or circle across the knuckle. The white end is just a way to make it easier for judges to score clean hit or punch. A punch is considered a scoring punch only when the boxers connect with the white portion of the gloves. Each punch that lands cleanly on the head or the upper body (preferably, chest area) with sufficient force is awarded a point.

A referee monitors the fight to ensure that competitors use only legal blows. Referees also ensure that the boxers don't use holding tactics to prevent the opponent from swinging. If this occurs, the referee separates the opponents and orders them to continue boxing. Repeated holding can result in a boxer being penalized or ultimately disqualified. Referees will stop the bout if a boxer is seriously injured, if one boxer is significantly dominating the other or if the score is severely imbalanced.

PRESIDENT OF AFRICAN PARALYMPICS COMMITTEE (AFPC) ON ADAPTIVE BOXING

Mr. Samson Deen, President of National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC-Ghana) and President of African Paralympics Committee (AFPC) welcomed the delegation of the Ghana Adaptive Boxing Federation (Para‐Boxing) at his office.

“Beyond physical well‐being, sport can play an important role for a safer, more prosperous and more peaceful society through its educational values, sport can help bridge cultural and ethnic divides, create jobs and businesses, promote tolerance and non‐discrimination, reinforce social integration, and advocate healthy lifestyles. Through sports development, we can achieve wider human development goals. I want to assure you that, National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC‐Ghana) and the African Paralympic Committee (AfPC) will give you any support you may need to develop the sport across Africa”, the President said.

Source Sammy Heywood Okine

The winner of the 2nd Edition of the Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon (AICHM) will take home GHC 10,000 as prize money in addition to other gifts from corporate bodies.

A statement signed by Mr. Henri Senyo Penni General Manager of Medivents Consult – organisers of the event said, the prize money applies to both male and female winners of the 21-Kilometre race.

It added that, the winners would also receive medals and certificates for their outstanding performance on the day.

According to the statement, the second placed athletes in both male and female categories would also receive GHC5,000 each, whilst GHC 3,000 each would go for the third placed athletes in both male and female categories.

It said fourth and fifth placed athletes in both male and female categories would receive GHC 2,000 and GHC 1,000 each whilst sixth to tenth placed athletes would receive consolation prizes and gifts from organisers.

In the 10-kilometre category, the winner would take home GHC1,000 with second and third placed athletes pocketing GHC1,000 and GHC500 respectively, adding that the prizes apply to both male and female categories.

It added that, the winners in the 5-kilometre category would go home with GHC1,000, whilst the second and third placed athletes would pocket GHC800 and GHC500 respectively.

The statement said athletes in the Wheelchair category would take home GHC1,000, GHC800 and GHC500 for the first, second, and third place respectively.

It stated that there would be consolation prizes for other outstanding athletes such as medals, certificates and gifts from sponsors.

The Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon is fixed for Friday, August 4, with the start point at the Accra Sports Stadium and finish at the Mantse Agbona, James Town.

It is in collaboration with the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and sponsored by HD Plus, Allied Consortiums, Serene Insurance, G4S, Aqua Blue Mineral Water, mybet.Africa.com, Rekfoli Herbals, Zimansky Hotel, TXT Ghana, and 442 Images.

Source AICM

World title prospect, Alfred Lamptey and his trainer - Ebenezer Adjei (aka Coach Killer) of the Black Panthers Gym today flew to Dubai for final preparations ahead of his bout on 22nd July, 2023 fight in Dubai.

The international super featherweight 10-rounder is against 33 year old Filipino, Richard Pumicpic. (23-13-3)

Lamptey 21, aka ‘Bukom Bomber’ or ‘Show Time’ who has trained enough for the bout said he will definitely get the victory to make his manager, Alex Ntiamoah-Boakye very happy.

Meanwhile, boxing fans in and around Bukom are routing for Lamptey to win.

The 2021Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Boxer of the year is seen as the next best thing to happen to Ghana Boxing.

He is a multiple title holder in the Super Featherweight division, but his target is the big ones, WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO.

He holds the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) Ghana Super Feather title, WBC Youth Silver Super Featherweight title, WBO Youth Super Featherweight belt, Universal Boxing Organization African Featherweight title and West African Boxing Union Super Featherweight belt.

He is undefeated in 12 bouts.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Black Stars defender, Alexander Djiku has signed for Turkey giants, Fenerbahçe.

“Very proud to be joining Fenerbahçe, an institution in Turkish and European football

I can't wait to start the adventure with my new team-mates so that I can enjoy a great season and give my all for this great club and its exceptional fans” he said on his Twitter page.

Alexander Djiku has joined Turkish giants Fenerbahçe on a three-year deal with an option to extend by a further year.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Attention, cycling enthusiasts! Get ready for an exhilarating event that will leave you on the edge of your seat. We are excited to announce the RideAfrique Accra Criterium 2024, a thrilling cycling race that will showcase the skill and speed of some of the best cyclists in the region.

Mark your calendars for [date], as Accra’s streets transform into a racing circuit for this incredible event. Spectators will have the opportunity to witness elite athletes from around the world compete for glory, pushing the limits of their endurance and speed.

Whether you’re a passionate cycling fan or simply looking for an adrenaline-filled experience, the RideAfrique Accra Criterium is an event not to be missed. Immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere, cheer on your favorite riders, and witness the drama unfold as they navigate the challenging course.

Stay tuned for more updates on the event, including the race route, participating teams, and additional activities surrounding the Criterium. Make sure to spread the word and invite your friends and family to join you in this thrilling celebration of athleticism and sportsmanship.

Remember, safety is our utmost priority. As a spectator, please adhere to all guidelines provided by the event organizers, and ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Gear up for the RideAfrique Accra Criterium 2024 and be part of a truly memorable cycling spectacle. See you at the finish line!