Michael Naba of the FCG Cycling Club on Sunday, won the first position and  gold medal in the 2023 National Cycling Championship held at Ho the capital of the Volta Region.

The two-day cycling event which is part of qualifications marked for the upcoming Accra2023 Africa Games and Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France was highly patronised.

Naba displayed marvelously with his speed and stamina as he overcame 40 other cyclists to grab the championship prize.

He crossed the finished line in four hours, one minute thirteen seconds over a distance of 139.2km of seven laps with an average speed of 34. 58, and was tailed by Prince Kudufia in finished time of four hours, three minute two second, while Sesi Emmanuel came third in four hours, three minute three seconds respectively.

In the Elite Woman, defending champion Erica Sedro maintained her title in a distance of 65.2km of 4 laps with an average speed of 23.48km with a finished time of three, twenty-three minutes followed by Florence Heridoh with a finished time of thirty-five minute respectively.

Abdul-Majeed Sanda from the Rainbow Club emerged winner in the Men’s Junior Divisions, in a distance of 79.44km of 5 laps with an average speed 31.36km with a finished time of two hours, thirty-two-minute, while Elias Sherif came second in finishing time of two hours and forty minute respectfully.

Mr. Riyard Mohammed, Vice President of the Ghana Cycling Federation (GFC) told the media this year’s competition has been tough as compared to last year.

He said, “this year’s competition has been very tough as compared to last year because the cyclists have proven to us that they can win gold medals for Ghana if they are given enough support”.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

… Full list of sports personalities honoured:

The Ghana Football Awards, on Sunday, June 25, 2023 held the 5th edition of it’s annual awards ceremony in Accra to award outstanding sports personalities.

The big winners Ajax star Mohammed Kudus and Sampson Eduku of Tamale City, who won the   Footballer of the Year and the home-based men’s footballer of the year respectively.

Kudus beat off competition from KRC Genk winger Joseph Paintsil and RC Lens star Abdul Samed Salis to win the coveted award.

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen bagged the best African International prize following his outstanding performance for Napoli in the just-ended season.

Medeama emerged as the Male Team of the year following the success in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League campaign. Coach Evans Adotey scooped the Men’s Coach of the Year prize.

Morocco-based Blessing Shine Agbomadzi picked the Women’s Footballer of the Year awards whiles Mary Amponsah of Ampem Darkoa Ladies clinched the Home-based Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Below is the full lists of Sports personalities honoured:

Men's Coach of the Year

Evans Adotey (Medeama SC)

Club CEO of the Year

Moses Armah (Medeama SC)

Living Legend Awards Sir Sam Jonah

Alberta Sackey (Ex-Black Queens Captain)

Women's Coach of the Year

Joe Nana Adarkwa (Ampem Darkoa Ladies)

Male Team of the Year

Medeama SC

Female Team of the Year

Ampem Darkoa Ladies

Special Fan(s) of the Year

Die Hard Supporters Union

Goalkeeper of the Year

Felix Kyei (Medeama SC)

Goal Queen of WPL

Princess Owusu (Fabulous Ladies)

Goal King of GPL

Abednego Tetteh (Bibiani Goldstars)

Best Goal of the Year

Eric Serge Zeze (Asante Kotoko)

Most Vibrant Club on Social Media

Asante Kotoko

Thumbs up Award

Robert Tetteh Coleman (Wembley Sports Complex)

Odartey Lamptey Future Star Award

Ernest Appiah Nuamah (FC Nordsjaelland)

Home-based Women's Footballer of the Year

Mary Amponsah (Ampem Darkoa Ladies)

Home-based Men's Footballer of the Year

Sampson Eduku (Tamale City)

Best African International

Victor Oshimen (SSC Napoli/Nigeria)

Women's Footballer of the Year

Blessing Shine Agbomadzi (ASFAR, Morocco)

Footballer of the Year

Kudus Mohammed (Ajax)

Footballghana

The five day Olympic Solidarity Level 1 Judo Coaching Course organized by the Ghana Judo Association and the Ghana Olympic Committee has ended at the Accra Sports Stadium with a call by the International Olympic Committee  instructor to create more publicity about the sport to gain attraction, interest and patronage in Ghana.

Sensei Idris Boosstoua, the course instructor was very happy and impressed with the comportment and positive attitude of the participants who were willing to learn.

"Any time there are innovations coming up so as coaches, you need to be abreast with what is going on at any time" he said.

He took the coaches through many fighting techniques in attacking and defending, first aid and other emergency medical topics on anatomy and physiology.

Boosstoua urged them to practice what they learnt to keep the game growing, especially at the basic level.

He took the coaches through practical training, where ADO1,Henry Quaye of the Ghana Fire Service supported immensely.

The two females were Rachel Kotey (Stadium Club) and Mercy Amoah (Prisons).

Ms Farida Idris. Administrative Manager of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) commanded the participants for their contributions and effective interactions.

Mr. John Kennedy Koranteng, General Secretary of Ghana Judo Association (GJA) thanked the GOC as this is the first time such a program is taking place in Ghana.

The participants were awarded certificates after the course from the International Olympic Committee and Ghana Olympic Committee.

The Olympic Solidarity Coaching Course Level I saw 29 participants including current top judoka Rashid Alhassan and two females drawn from various clubs at the Media Center and Hathiramani Sports Hall from Tuesday, June 20, 2023 to Saturday June 24, 2023.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Armwrestling will be one of the sporting disciplines at the 13th African Games which will be hosted by Ghana.

The world’s governing body of Armwrestling, WAF, has decorated Charles Osei Asibey for his immeasurable contribution to the development and promotion of the sport in Africa.

Assen Hadjitodorov, the President of WAF, highlighted the impactful role played by Asibey in ensuring the continuous growth and promotion of the sport on the continent.

Asibey, 48, was voted into office as the President of the African Armwrestling Federation in July 2022 and he has employed diverse tools to increase the popularity of the sport in Ghana and outside of the continent by introducing talent-hunting programs and initiatives.

Under his stewardship, the African continent has become the first continental body in the world apart from the WAF to develop an automated scoring system to improve competitions on the African continent.

Part of his remarkable achievements includes ensuring that armwrestling becomes one of the sporting disciplines at the 13th African Games which will be hosted by Ghana.

African armwrestling has now been inducted into the internationally-acclaimed Arnold Classic competition which is one of the most prestigious global events.

The sport will also feature at the World Combat Games which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later this year.

Asibey is the Vice President of the World Armwrestling Federation.

Source Ghanasportonline

My best wishes to the Black Meteors as they commence their 2023 CAF U23 African Cup of Nations campaign this afternoon against Congo.

May they emerge victorious at the end of the game and in subsequent games

2023 U-23 AFCON: It means so much to participate in Olympic Games  said Black Meteors captain Daniel Afriyie.

Emmanuel Yeboah was voted MOYM in the first match at the qualifiers against Congo

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s Golden Arms hosted and won the 2023 Africa Armwrestling Championship after sweeping the highest number of medal in the 2-day event in Accra.

The 12th Africa Armwrestling Championship, was staged in Ghana’s capital, with powerhouses Egypt and Nigeria in attendance with 11 other nations.

Friday, June 23, 2023 was the opening day of the event at the GNAT Hall which is situated at Adabraka – a suburb of Accra and the hostilities were brought to a close on Saturday, June 24, 2023 in a grand style.

Ghana’s national team, the Golden Arms, made a strong statement on Day 1 as they led the medal table after claiming 71 medals in the 26 different categories the West Africans competed in.

Egypt, Ghana’s fiercest rivals in the sport on the continent, managed 17 medals while neighbours Nigeria placed 3rd with 143 points amounting to 7 gold medals, 5 silver, and 7 bronze medals.

However, the dynamics shifted on the final day with Ghana adding 61 more medals to the haul to complete the event as the highest ranked side.

Meanwhile, Charles Osei Asibey, the President for the African Armwrestling Federation, was honoured by the World Armwrestling Federation for his immense contribution to the massive development and growth of the sport in Africa.

Ghanasportsonline

18 year old Ghanaian UK based Fencer Kelsey Woname is one of the athletes in the prestigious list for the 2023 Women In Sports Association (WISA) Achievers Award scheduled for September 23 at the Accra sports stadium.

Woname is one special Ghanaian Fencer dedicated to the sport and she believes Fencing has the potential to win medals for the country at the African and Olympic Games if government and companies would invest in the sport  to get athletes represented at international tournaments.

She stared for Ghana at the recent African Youth and Cadet Championship held in Accra.

She did well to improve upon her performance after the first time at the African Games in 2019.

The Ghana Junior Team Captain believes the sport has great potential in the country.

“Not many people know much about this sport and we try to raise awareness and people say it is a really interesting sport.” She told the media in an interview.

“It is kind of hard because not many fencers you send can actually go to the competitions because of the lack of funding from the government.

“So people don’t have much awareness about the sport like football because they don’t see a lot of fencers and that is the problem we have.” She continued.

In the last competition season, Ghana won so many medals because there is a lot of ambition and potential in the sport, she appeals for more support.

Ghana won 11 medals (no gold) in 2021 and 16 in February 2023 (2 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze).

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Sylvester Oko Nortey of Ghana advances to Teqball Semi Finals after spectacular win with a broken finger at 2^nd African Beach Games in Tunisia.

Notwithstanding a dislocated finger, Ghana Teqball hopeful Sylvester Oko Nortey came from a game to tie his quarter final match 1-1.

After a long hold up, he was treated and had his fingers strapped by the Team doctor.

Just a few moments ago, he beat his opponent Senso Mnisi 2-1 to qualify for the semi finals.

It's a huge win for the 19 year old from Accra at his first ever international competition.

Oko Nortey will face the top seed from Nigeria Victor Oyemade in the semi finals on Sunday evening.

Source Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Tunisia

The President of the Chinese Olympic Committee visits Tunisia to meet the African Olympic family on the sidelines of the African Beach Games

HAMMAMET, Tunisia, June 25, 2023/ -- Strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation between Africa and China in the field of youth and sport was the focus of an important meeting held on Saturday in Hammamet, Tunisia, between the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) (https://AfricaOlympic.com/), chaired by Mustapha Berraf, and a delegation from the Chinese Olympic Committee led by its President, Gao Zhidan, on the sidelines of the Hammamet 2023 African Beach Games.

This meeting was further distinguished by the presence of the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), Robin Mitchell, who took the opportunity to highlight the excellent work accomplished by ANOCA, stressing that the report presented to the last meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) notes that ANOCA is ranked among the top two continental Olympic associations in terms of promotion of Sport, Olympic Values and Governance, having made good use of Olympic Solidarity funds, and therefore deserves greater representation among IOC members.

President Berraf then declared himself pleased and honoured that the Chinese National Olympic Committee had responded favorably to ANOCA's invitation, welcoming the already exemplary relations between China and Africa, describing them as "indivisible and bound by ties of sincere and unfailing friendship".

Mustafa Berraf thanked the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), the Secretary General of the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sport of the Francophonie (CONFEJES), the President of the Ghana Organising Committee for the All-Africa Games for their presence, the President of the Tunisian National Olympic Committee (CNOT) and the Organising Committee for the African Beach Games (COJAP), as well as African members and leaders of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), reminding that the aim of this meeting is to consolidate the foundations of a lasting partnership between China and Africa.

He went on to review the areas to be developed through this partnership:

1. Preparing athletes for upcoming international events, in particular the Olympic Games,
2. Training coaches and managers to improve governance within African National Olympic Committees.
3. Coordination for mutual support during elections,
4. The promotion of Olympic Values, the joint reinforcement of the fight against doping and the fight against global warming,
5. The maintenance and development of sports infrastructures,
6. A joint commitment, in coordination with the IOC, to strict compliance with the rules and principles of the Olympic Charter.

Mr Berraf emphasised that these areas would be the subject of a cooperation agreement to be signed next September in China.

The President of the Chinese Olympic Committee said he was delighted to be among the African Olympic family and expressed his deep gratitude to ANOCA for this invitation.

He expressed his gratitude to the IOC for its support to China during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Mr ZHIDAN highlighted Africa's role in the influence of the international Olympic and sports movement, underlining its rich pool of high-performance athletes and its capacity to host the biggest international events, including the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). "This opens up the possibility of becoming the centre of the international Olympic Movement," he said.

The President of the Chinese Olympic Committee also pointed out that the President of the People's Republic of China attaches great importance to relations with Africa in all areas, and that "it is only logical that I, as President of the Olympic Committee and Minister of Sport in China, should be involved in this process", noting that there is great potential for cooperation in disciplines such as athletics, swimming and football, which are high-performance areas in Africa, and gymnastics and table tennis, which are the most successful sports in China.

Mr ZHIDAN added that cooperation ties with Africa are characterised by the values of Sincerity, Friendship and Progress, and that these should be strengthened.

Mr James Maleod and Ms Kristy Coventry in turn highlighted the value of partnerships between the various Olympic bodies, welcoming the approach taken by the Chinese Olympic Committee and ANOCA.

Invited to take the floor, Mr Mehrez Boussayene thanked ANOCA for the trust placed in Tunisia to organise the African Beach Games, underlining the honour it was for Tunisia to welcome the African and international Olympic family, including the President of ANOC and the President of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for fruitful exchanges between those present with a view to strengthening the role of the Olympic movement for a better world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

SOURCE

Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)

Acting Chief Enterprise Business Executive, Daniel Asare expressed his awesome experience on the golf course at Celebrity Golf Club, Sakumono where the annual MTN Invitational began.

He noted that participants unwavering support continues to fuel MTN to do more and even better as a brand.

"Through your support, we have been able to build a remarkable brand that has kept pushing boundaries in th telecommunications sector for the past 27 years.

Let me share a few highlights of what we have been up to as a business since we started the year.

• In line with our Ambition 2025 strategy to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress, we cut the sod for a -$25 million ICT Hub to develop an ICT ecosystem in the areas of Health, Agriculture and Education through on-site and remote access delivery to facilitate skills development and job creation for the youth in Ghana. The project is being done in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and will be located at the Accra Digital Center. The Ghana ICT Hub is expected to be completed after 18 months when construction begins later this year.
• This month, MTN staff have embarked on an Employee Volunteer Programme dubbed 21 Days of Y’ello Care under the theme ‘Empowering entrepreneurs to unlock growth and job creation for communities”. Employee volunteers focused on leveraging digital, financial tools and skills as enablers to unlock growth for entrepreneurs. Over 3000 Youth entrepreneurs and women received training in basic financial skills, social media marketing and customer service to promote their businesses in the digital space and connect these businesses to bigger markets using smart phones and social media.
• Beyond these interventions we make to enhance our society, we continue to innovate to meet the digital needs of customers. Our ‘MTN Home’ and Fibre Broadband Services are still available.

The Customer Experience team is available here to assist you with more details on any of our service offerings.

We are on course to invest One-billion-dollars in network expansion by the end of 2025.

• We continue to remain a partner for development. MTN in 2022, contributed over GhS4.0 billion in Government revenue.
• MTN remains committed to leading the delivery of a bold new digital world and to make the lives of customers a whole lot brighter" he said.

He congratulated the winners of the tournament for their demonstration of resilience and tenacity.

2023 MTN Invitational Golf @ Celebrity Golf Club, Sakumono - Results

Mercy Werner won the top prizes for her longest drive and closest to the pin and placed runner-up in the women’s group.

Nadia Kwei - Sam won the Women’s Group, with Patricia Adusei Poku taking the second runner-up position.

In the Men’s Group B, Steve Yu Hai Yu was first, Benny Minus was second and Abdul Aziz Amankwah placed third.

The Men’s Group A first position went to Justice Modzifa, with Jack Yug Lin at second and Francis Amuzu taking the third spot.

Solomon Allotey won the Longest Drive for Men, while Dr. Amoako Mensah took the Men’s Closest to the pin.

Infinix and Techno were business partners at the 2023 MTN Invitational Golf which was received a high patronage.

By Sammy Heywood Okine