Ghana international Edmund Addo has expressed his delight at joining Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade from Sparta Subotica.

After passing his medicals following his international duty with the Senior national team, the Black Stars midfielder completed his move on Wednesday.

The Black Stars midfielder signed a four-year contract and is anticipated to play a significant part for the club next season.

Since his time at Sheriff Tiraspol, the midfielder has been on the radar of the Serbian champions.

“Same Goal and Target, New Challenge” he tweeted.

After various squabbles between Sherif and Crvena Zvezda, he joined Spartak Subotica in January. Injuries limited him to just 11 league matches, but his performances have inspired Red Star Belgrade to secure his services

He joins fellow Black Stars player Osman Bukari, who had an outstanding debut season with the Serbian giants.

Red Star Belgrade are the current champions of the Serbian Super League.

From Elizabeth Alhasasn Gyamfi

The Twafour chief Nana Adjei Katakyie I of Essaase Bontefufuo traditional Area who doubles as the Twafohene of Esaase Bontefufuo traditional council commissioned an ultra-modern hospital built by the Asanko Mining Company.

The hospital at Esaase Bontefufuo township will serve several communities  like Manyhie, Aboabo Tetremu, Mpatoamu, Ahwerewa, Bonteso and Akataniase in the Amansie West Municipality.

The fully furnished facility, which is estimated at $1,765,382.48, comes with an ambulance donated by the Rabotec Group. Other facilities  include, a theatre, emergency room, laboratory, pharmacy, laundry, administrative offices and wards for male, female, children, and maternity.

Asanko Gold Ghana, a mining company, yesterday inaugurated and handed over the new hospital facility for the people of Bontefufuo in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region.

The hospital, which is expected to employ two to four medical doctors, 30 nurses, eight midwives and other medical staff, has adequate space for the storage of medical supplies.

But for this intervention, residents of Bontefufuo and other neighboring catchment communities such as Esaase, Manhyia, Aboabo, Tetremu, Mpatoamu, Ahwerewa, Bonteso and Akataniase, would not have to travel to Nkawie to access medical care.

The hospital project was in fulfillment of a request made by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for the mining company to build a health facility at Bontefufuo where it operates. The request was made because of the lack of a major health facility at the time.

Speaking at the ceremony to inaugurate the project, the General Manager of

Asanko, Andrew McGowan said  Otumfuo’s request was in line with the company's corporate social responsibility, hence the realization of the ultra-modern edifice.

Additionally, he said the move fell under a program dubbed, “ Asanko Opportunity Cycle”, which specifically leveraged the presence of the mine to make a positive impact on stakeholders to create a self-sustaining legacy that would survive beyond the existence of the mine.

He seized the opportunity to advise the beneficiaries to put the facility to good use, while ensuring equipment was maintained to maximize their operational life.

The Managing Director of Asanko, Dr Charles Amoah, said Otumfuo’s intervention had led to a peaceful co-existence between the company and the Bontefufuo community.

He appealed to the chiefs and people of the community to sustain the existing cooperation with the Asanko Gold Mine in ensuring total harmony to their mutual benefit.

Nana Adjei Katakyie I known in private life as Williams Adjei  and also CEO of Purelife Pharmaceuticals,  commended Asanko Gold for their timely invention to the people of Esaase. Health issues disturbing my people of Esaase and nearby communities are a thing of the past now.

“ I am pleading with Asanko Gold if they can  support other communities nearby with such facilities,” Nana advised residents to desist from encroaching on the mining concessions, We have witnessed what Asanko Gold can do to save our communities, let desist from mining in their zone” Nana Adjei Katakyei Stressed on.

Source Gabby Amoakoh

John Oppong Welbeck to lead technical rejuvenation of Liberty Professionals

The new technical direction of Dansoman based Liberty Professionals has been vested in coach John Oppong Welbeck, a talent discoverer and groomer to guide the club to realise its new vision and objective.

John Welbeck who had been at post for the past two months has gained experience taking part in the first coaching course for the Five Years Development Plan organized by the Ghana Football Association under the late Ben Koufie. He also trained and practiced in South Africa for a while.

He has been with clubs like Mamprobi Rising Stars, Magic Canons, Juventus SC, Dreams FC, Bechem FC, Medeama and Balfour Alexander FC and Ajax Academy in South Africa just to name a few.

He has urged all fans and supporters to remain calm and rally behind the new technical team and management in the new phase and history of the club.

Liberty Professions who have produced players like Asamoah Gyan, John Paintsil, Sulley Muntari Kwadwo Asamoah, Michael Essien and other was demoted from the Ghana Premier League in the 2020/2021 season.

But Madam Linda Ansong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Division One league side says the new new ownership is coming with the new direction with Mr. Felix Ansong, the remaining founder alive still in charge.

She said Liberty Professionals will be put in good shape to compete at the highest level, it has divested its slot to compete in the Division One League but would compete in the Ghana Football Association pyramid.

“Started originally as an academy, the club will seek to re-establish its reputation as a world class developer of Ghanaian football talent,” she expressed.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana football legend, Asamoah Gyan aka BABY JET has assured that he will not abandon football despite announcing his retirement from football.

The 37-year-old on Tuesday at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Afri-Exim Bank Africa Trade Gateway Conference but will pick up other roles in the sport.

“I am reminded by views of great businessmen and sport moguls that: ‘you do not leave your love’. I will put my experience and knowledge to use in the field of coaching, football business and scouting,” Gyan wrote in his retirement statement.

Gyan scored 51 goals for the Black Stars. He remains Africa's all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with six goals.

He scored his first World Cup goal against the Czech Republic during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, a game Ghana won 2-0.

Gyan, who started his playing career at Liberty Professionals moved on to play for Stade Rennes, Udinese Calcio, Sunderland, Al Ain, Shanghai SIPG, Kayerispor, NorthEast United and Legon Cities.

He last played for the Black Stars during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt where the Black Stars exited at the Round of 16.

From Elizabeth Alhassan Gyamfi

CAPTION: James Kotey - Danbort Team Manager

GREATER Accra Second Division side, Danbort FC, has filed a protest against Still Believe FC after their Middle League game last Saturday.

The Nungua Warriors are demanding the maximum three points and three goals after accusing Still Believe FC of fielding an unqualified team official against the rules of the competition in the contest won by the latter.

Still Believe is the youth side of Dreams FC which is owned by Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku.

The protest filed by Danbort FC, states that the fielding of the unqualified team official in the Group A game, is in breach of the 2021 Regional Football Association League Regulations.

James Kotey, Team Manager of Danbort FC, on Monday lodged the protest on behalf of the Nungua-based club.

It states that contrary to Article(s) 33 (1) (e) of the 2021 Regional Football Association League Regulations in the Matchday 1 (One) of the Greater Accra Second Division Middle League Group A match played at the Accra Sports Stadium, Still Believe FC fielded an unqualified team official in the person of Abdul Karim Zito as Technical Director on its team sheet.

Per their search in the FIFA Connect Danbort FC said Abdul Karim Zito - who is Head Coach of Dreams FC, is not a registered team official (Technical Director) of Still Believe FC which makes him an unqualified team official to appear on the team sheet and also be seen intermittently on the bench of Still Believe FC.

Danbort FC are, therefore, demanding three points and three goals in accordance with Article 33 (5) (a, b and c) of the 2019 Regional Football Association League Regulations 2021.

The article states that: "In addition to the sanctions provided in clauses 2 and 3 above, in response to offences 33 (1) (a) to 33 (1) (e) and 33 (1) (f) respectively, the following sanctions shall apply: (a) the defaulting club shall lose 3 points from its accumulated points from previous matches;  (b) the club shall be fined GH¢1,000.00 for Second Division, GH¢500.00 for Third Division and GH¢300.00 for lower Division, 50 per cent of which shall be paid to the opposing club.

It also states in (c) that where the defaulting club is playing at home, the transportation expenses of the opposing club shall also be paid by the defaulting club.

Still Believe FC are expected to file a defence to this protest before a final decision is made by the Disciplinary Committee (DC) of the Regional Football Association (RFA).

By John Vigah

The Treasurer of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) Mr. Mustapha Nettey has indicated that the future of Ghana Boxing rests solely in the development and promotion of juvenile and amateur boxing.

Mr. Nettey said at the launch of the BESESAKA Boxucation Camp 2023, the third edition in the series of training for the 16 Besesaka scholarship beneficiaries and 60 other participants drawn from all the gyms in Accra.

The event was attended by the Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Federation Mr. Dauda Fuseni, the former President of the Federation Mr. George Lamptey, the head coach of the National team Coach Ofori Asare and Mr. Teiko Tagoe, Executive Director of GAMADA.

According to Mr. Mustapha Nettey, boxing like many other sports require gradual tutelage, systematic and scientific development of the athlete to adapt the technical rudiment of the sport.

"Ghana can maintain or even do better in the sports of boxing if we pay an unfettered attention to juvenile and youth boxing development" he said.

Ghana's last Olympic medal before Samuel Takyi won the bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic games was some 39 years ago which only goes core of the development of boxing at the juvenile and youth levels.

"The future of boxing in Ghana rest solely on developing amateur boxing and that is the only way we can win medals at Olympic games, Commonwealth games and then to world titles. I commend Mr. James C. Nortey for the Besesaka initiative". Mr. Nettey added.

The Besesaka Boxucation Camp 2023 start on Sunday 18th July at the sacred heart school. The theme for this year's career development and skill training is "nurturing the transformational boxer, the role of the elderly".

Source Friends of Boxing

Ghana’s All Time Top Scorer, Africa’s top scorer at the World Cup, BBC African Footballer of the Year 2010 Asamoah Gyan has officially retired from professional football.

He made the announcement at the conference. In a touching speech, a teary Gyan said football was something he did since he was a child.

He made the announcement  at The 30th Afreximbank Annual Meetings at the Accra International Conference Centre  at 5pm today while speaking on the theme “Sport as a New Creative Industry Opportunity for Inclusive Growth: Insights from a Professional”

Baby Jet retires with amazing records like:

⭕ Ghana’s record goal scorer

⭕ Africa’s leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup.

⭕ First Ghanaian to score at the FIFA world Cup.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Chelsea have signed France striker Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig for £52m. The 25-year-old scored 16 goals in 25 games in the Bundesliga last season. Nkunku, who has won 10 caps for France, is manager Mauricio Pochettino's first signing since he took charge.

From Elizabeth Gyamfi

An Olympic Solidarity Coaching Course Level I for 22 participants including two females drawn from various clubs has been began at the Accra Sports Stadium (Media Center) from Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Sensei Idris  Boosstoua, an Algerian resident in the United kingdom is taking the class through fundamentals to the foundation and basic principles for coaches in the next four days.

He recalled the basics of Judo which originated from Japan, and warned that there is no punching or kicking.

"We are a very disciplined sport, and we want practitioners to show discipline and respect always" he expressed.

He brief about the history of Judo and urged the coaches to always impart the history, philosophy and principles of the sport to kids.

According to Boosstoua, Judo means respect, discipline, honesty, dedication, humility, commitment and having the passion.

He took the coaches through practical training, where they wore the prescribed attire for competition.

Present at the course were technical officials of the Ghana Judo Association.

The two females, Rachel Kotey (Stadium Club) and Mercy Amoah (Prisons) said the training is a great opportunity to learn and know much about the sport and latest informations as well as meet other officials.

Ms Farida Idris. Administrative Manager of the Ghana Olympic Committee said the course is very important and adviced the participants to be serious and punctual.

They will be awarded certificates after the course from the International Olympic Committee.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s U-23 side, the Black Meteors will leave Cairo for Rabat on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, ahead of the upcoming U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The team is currently in Cairo preparing for the tournament that is scheduled to kick off from 24 June to 08 July 2023.

The Black Meteors as part of their preparations played against Egypt's U-23 side, a game that ended 1-1.

The team will wrap up their preparations with a game against Egyptian giants, Zamalek on June 20, 2023, before leaving for Morocco.

The team will be based in Rabat for a larger part of the group stages where they will play Congo and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium before leaving for Tangier to play Guinea.

Meanwhile, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer have pulled out from the squad for the tournament for various reasons.

Ghana have been housed in Group A alongside host Morocco, Congo and Guinea.

The Black Meteors will be hoping to be part of the three finalists who will get their tickets for the Summer Olympics in 2024 in Paris.

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