Medivents Consult – Media Public Relations and Events Management outfit in partnership with the Ghana Digital Centers Limited (GDCL), will on Monday, May 1, organize a special walk for corporate workers as part of activities to mark the May Day Celebrations.

The 5 and 10- Kilometer walk would commence at the Accra Sports Stadium through some principal streets and end at the same venue.

The event dubbed “May Day Corporate Walk/Run” is to promote good health and fitness among corporate workers who spend most of their time at their various offices.

According to the organisers of the event, the walk would start at 6:00am and expected to end at 8:00am with special aerobics to climax it.

Mr. Henri Senyo Penni – General Manager of Medivents Consult said his outfit was excited with the partnership with GDCL, adding that patrons would have the best of safety and security during the 10-kilometer walk, amidst brass band music.

He called on other corporate bodies to join the walk to make it memorable saying “they would also be special prizes at stake”.

According to Mr. Senyo Penni said corporate bodies are free to wear their corporate “T” shirts or Polo shirts to the walk.

Mr. Edward Aikins Business Development Manager of GDCL said they would moblise their staff to be part of the historic exercise.

Individuals and corporate bodies interested in the walk can contact 0555165166/0243050331.

Source Medivents Consult

President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) who  played a key role in the visit of Asafa Powell, the Jamaican former world 100 metres record holder and current fourth best fastest man in the world is considering adding the world fastest man to come to the motherland.

According the sources, there are arrangements by Ben Nunoo Mensah to bring down Usain Bolt, the world 100 metres record holder who is also from Jamaica, all aimed at strengthing relations between Ghana and Jamaica with Sports, Education, Business and Tourism ventures and opportunities.

As Ghana plans to host the 13^th African Games, Ghanaian athletes are itching for super stars like the duo to motivate and inspire them to hit their best.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Ghana Football Association has officially launched a charity wing called GFA Foundation with the aim of reaching out to the needy, touching lives, giving back to society and most importantly focusing on the welfare of industry players.

The mission of the Foundation is to positively impact lives of people through the support of national and international development initiatives and goals. Others include:

support for projects that would improve lives and livelihood of football people and communities

To use football and its outcomes to effect behavioral change and social change advocacy

To improve the quality of lives of people through appropriate interventions in communities in Ghana and beyond

To promote football values and team work amongst staff of the FA, the Regional Football Associations through an Employee Volunteer Programme

To ensure all GFA work processes, Centres, activities, projects and programmes adhere to globally acceptable sustainability concept of reducing weight, safeguarding the environment and using natural resources responsibly

The GFA Foundation will also be looking at Community Development – Health and Education

Providing assistance to under privileged people and groups – Donations to orphanages and groups

To Educate stakeholders on hooliganism, fair play and integrity

To encourage re-used and recycled initiatives

And most importantly, support for welfare of footballers and football officials

The Foundation will be managed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Astute Chartered Insurer Daniel Awuah Darko. Awuah Darko holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in addition to the Associate Diploma of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London. Joining Vanguard Assurance in 1993, he has had the benefit of offshore training at Munich, Re in Germany. He holds over 30-years of experience in the Insurance industry both overseas and locally. He currently serves on Boards of several companies.

Isaac Osei Yeboah, President of Premier League club Bibiani Gold Stars is the Vice Chairman. Osei Yeboah is in charge of Finance, Development and Corporate Affairs of Asante Gold Corporation. He is a Chartered Accountant and a product of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Other Members of the Board include Corporate Affairs expert Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, Executive Council member, Frederick Acheampong and former Ghanaian International footballer Nii Odartey Lamptey.

Sylvia Owusu Ankomah is the Head of Corporate Affairs of Guinness Ghana Limited who has over 18-years of experience in Corporate Affairs, Crisis and Reputation management, Policy Advocacy and Compliance.  Sylvia previously worked with MTN and the Volta River Authority and is currently a Board Member of the Ghana Investment and Electronic Communications and the Ghana Innovations Hub under the Ministry of Communications.

Frederick Acheampong is a former Chief Executive Officer of AshantiGold Sporting Club. He is currently an Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association and an Executive Board Member of the Ghana Olympic Committee. He is a season Broadcaster with Kessben FM and TV and General Coordinator for the Confederation of African Football. Frederick Acheampong is a product of Mfantsipim School, holds BSc from the University of Cape Coast, MBA from the University of Wales -UK, LLB from the Central University and currently studying for LLM at the University of Ghana.

The fifth Board Member is former Ghanaian International footballer Nii Odartey Lamptey.  Odartey Lamptey played in three Africa Cup of Nations in 1992, 94 and 1996, made 39 appearances and scored 11 goals for Ghana. Nii featured in the 1992 Olympic Games, the 1993 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Australia and the 1991 U-17 World Cup in Italy where Ghana won Gold. He played for Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven in Belgium, Aston Villa and Coventry City in England before moving to Argentina (Club Athletic Union), Portugal (Union De Sportif De Leiria), Germany, (Greuther Furth), China (Shandong Luneng), the United Arab Emirates (Al Nasr FC) and Ghana (Asante Kotoko). He is the founder of Glow-Lamp Soccer Academy and Glow-Lamp International School.

The Ghana Football Association has also appointed marketing, corporate social responsibility, corporate communications, project management, community relations, events and stakeholder management expert Malcom Frazier Appeadu as Director of the Foundation.  Malcom previously had stints with Tigo Ghana and the Rlg Foundation where he was responsible for its set-up, managing all social investments and employee volunteer programmes.

In attendance were President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku and Vice President Mark Addo. Others included Executive Council Members Madam Habiba Atta Forson, George Amoako, Dr. Tony Aubynn, Nana Sarfo Oduro, Kingsley Osei Bonsu, Linford Asamoah Boadu and Samuel Anim Addo.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

South American nation steps in following Indonesia removal

Tournament to take place from 20 May to 11 June

Official Draw to be held in Zurich on 21 April

FIFA President Gianni Infantino: “A country that lives and breathes football will be a tremendous inspiration for the stars of tomorrow”

The Bureau of the FIFA Council has confirmed Argentina as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023™.

The decision follows the removal of the original tournament host, Indonesia, as well as a subsequent bid submitted by the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and an on-site inspection by a FIFA delegation to the South American country last week. The delegation members visited the proposed tournament venues and associated infrastructure. The hosting agreement has been signed by the AFA, along with all other relevant documents on the part of the host and local authorities.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup will take place from 20 May to 11 June 2023 and will feature six groups of four teams. Having been awarded the hosting rights to the tournament, Argentina will compete in the event in place of Indonesia. Argentina is the most successful nation in the history of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, having won the tournament six times, most recently in 2007. The country also hosted the competition in 2001.

“FIFA is delighted to announce that this year's edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup will take place in Argentina, as the home of the world champions opens its doors to the tomorrow’s superstars of world football,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “I would like to thank the AFA and particularly its President Claudio Tapia, as well as the governmental authorities, for their commitment to hosting this magnificent event at such short notice.

“The U-20 World Cup plays a key role in FIFA’s efforts to promote youth football across the world. Since 1977, this tournament has featured some of the greatest players of the past decades, including Diego Armando Maradona, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland and many others. Having this year’s edition taking place in a country that lives and breathes football will be a tremendous inspiration for the stars of tomorrow.”

Following the confirmation of the new hosts, the Official Draw of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023™ will take place on Friday 21 April at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. Further details will be provided in due course.

FIFA

Mr. Joojo Ephson, Communications Director of the Ghana Boxing Federation GBF has disclosed that they will organize an individual boxing competition for amateur boxers in May.

Speaking to Yours Truly on their upcoming events, he expressed that the GBF always has good plans for boxers, however the problem has been financial.

The said it is good news that some people want to join the Black Bombers and they are welcome, but they must prove themselves as the best by winning or going to the final of every competition.

The noted that the upcoming National Individual Amateur Boxing Championship in May 2023 that will be platform to select Boxers for the various weight Categories to form the new BLACK BOMBERS who are going to be prepared for upcoming major international competitions like - the Africa Boxing Championship in Cameroun, the Africa Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Dakar Senegal in September,2023 towards the Paris2024 Olympic games and the 2023 Africa Games (Accra2023) in March 2024.

According to Joojo Ephson, boxing has always been the hope of the nation when it comes to international sports competitions.

He commended the President and Vice President of the Federation as well as the hard working Coach Dr. Ofori Asare who is dreaming of winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) , Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah has another feather in his cap after the building which houses the offices of the Committee was designed with the inscription 'Olympic House' .

The inscription is boldly written on top of the imposing six storey building at Ridge in Accra.

Ben Nunoo Mensah told Yours Truly "At long last, after having fought for this since 2011 when I was the Treasurer and in the last 6 years as President my persistence has yielded fruits and as always, one of my campaign promises has been fulfilled."

It would be recalled Ben Nunoo Mensah promised to have the building named the make visible the Olympic Movement presence in Ghana.

The hinted that officials from ANOCA, the African National Olympic Committees Association will visit Ghana shortly and a programme for the building as well as other projects will be known.

He has had discussions with the Ministry for Works and Housing which have been fruitful, and Deputy Minister Abdulai Abanga assured him of support to make things work.

Facts on Olympic House in Accra Ghana

Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee GOC gave details about issues surrounding the land of the Olympic House building.

“Before we built our office where it is now, the GOC had an office on the land.

“Our building was on the land,” he said, adding; “The land was ours. The government has given the GOC a large chunk of land since the time of K.N. Owusu, who was a former GOC President.”

The promise was that the GOC would be given an office in the complex after the GOC office was demolished and a new high-rise building was built.

“So that was where the GOC’s office was, so when they raised that high-rise building, the promise to us was that we would be given the first floor because they were going to demolish our building, and the building would then be named the Olympic House,” he explained.

Ben Nunoo Mensah is hopeful of the building being named, as discussions with the Ministry for Works and Housing have been fruitful, and Deputy Minister Abdulai Abanga has assured him of support to make things work.

“When I became president, because I was involved, I started chasing the ministry, and I think from my last meeting with the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, I believe not long from now, the building will be named officially,” Ben Nunoo Mensah concluded.

The OLYMPIC House at Ridge will be managed and maintained by K&A Developers who have already started work.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Olympic Committee is preparing for its 2023 Congress scheduled for April 29, 2023.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

USA based Ghanaian boxing trainer, Emmanuel Addo aka Mosquito has expressed that Ghana Boxing deserves more than it is currently.

Speaking to Yours Truly in an exclusive chat, the man who recently gave super lightweight boxer, George Ashie an opportunity to fight in California said Ghana Boxing is down, and he does not understand.

“For a nation that has produced ten world champions to have boxers suffer is not a good thing, we have to produce more world champions” he said.

Addo who was a former boxer at Bukom said it is sad for Isaac Dogboe to lose after he got the opportunities to fight for the WBO titles.

He also showed concern why super middleweight, Sena Agbeko was deprived the chance of fighting for the WBA title by the Nevada Athletics Commission.

Another issue that worries him is why Ghana’s ex champions are not helping the up and coming boxers.

“We have people like Prof. Azumah Nelson and Ike Bazooka Quartey who can help the young boxers but they are not and it worries me” he stressed.

Addo who fought as an amateur and ventured into professional boxing later became a trainer as well as promoter, administrator / manager and ring announcer.

“I love boxing because that is what I learnt as a kid and grew up with it. In my area in Accra, Bukom, all that we know and do is boxing but most of the young guys find it difficult to rise to the top, into the world ranks, and that is where I want to support” he added.

He commended ex world champions like Oscar De La Hoya and Lomachenko who are supporting young boxers with promotions and training, and urged Ghanaian heroes to do likewise.

On local boxing promotions, he was not enthused with the Imax Boxing Promotions Boxing League, because he feels it is not affecting everyone in the game, and thinks other promoters have been sidelined.

“Once it is called the Ghana Professional Boxing League, I don’t think one promoter should control, I think all the promoters must contribute” he expressed.

He questioned why of late Ghanaians are not interested in fighting for the Commonwealth title as it is another platform to gain exposure and experience.

He also urged the sports media to work hard to promote Ghana Boxing as only a few journalists are into boxing, and majority in football.

He also expressed concern about amateur boxing and advised young boxers not to rush in turning professional, but learn the rudiments and tricks in the game before joining the paid ranks.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Nigeria’s U18 girls beat their Benin Republic counterparts to emerge champions of the IHF Women’s Trophy Africa Zone 3 phase, which held in Accra, Ghana.

Fillers from the competition venue, revealed that Handball fans at the Tennis Arena of the Accra Sports Stadium, were in awe of the Nigerian girls, as they conveniently earned a 42-17 victory over Benin Republic.

Nigeria’s Goalkeeper, Babatunde Kehinde, clinched the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the match, after what many described as wonderful performance.

She is the twin sister of Babatunde Taiwo, who got the MVP in Nigeria’s first match against Liberia.

Also, Nigeria’s, Esther Matthew, was voted as the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the championship, while Goalkeeper Precious Samuel, was picked by organisers as the Best Goalkeeper of the competition.

With the overall victory, Nigeria have qualified for the IHF Women’s Trophy Continental Phase.

The team won four matches, without losing any game in the competition.

Reacting, President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, (HFN) Mr. Samuel Ocheho, who is in Accra in his capacity as the President of IHF Africa Zone 3, said he was excited that the development programmes of the Federation which aims at discovering talents is yielding dividends.

Nigeria will represent Africa Zone 3 in the continental phase of the IHF Trophy Africa phase in a yet to be announced host country in few months time.

By Victor Kanayo / Heritage Times

The Black Starlets produced an impressive performance at the ongoing UEFA U-16 Development Tournament in Serbia with an emphatic 3-2 victory over Spain after beating the hosts 4-0.

Ghana will wrap up the 2023 UEFA U16 Development Tournament with a game against Switzerland on Tuesday, April 18. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 8:00am GMT.

Ghana’s midfield dynamo is 15-year-old Fatawu Ganiwu, who plays for Sporting Avranches, a Division 2-based club in Madina.

Fatawu confident and anchors the midfield. He is  calm when attacking and aggressive in winning the ball.

The young lad from Madina Zongo has the ability to provide the forward lines with defence splitting passes, and can sho accurately at goal.

Coach Karim Zito is the coach of the new Starlets 2023.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

A dedicated stadium for rugby is being built currently at the University of Ghana, Legon

A team from Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) led by its President Herbert Mensah are in Ghana to inspect a dedicated Rugby stadium currently under construction in the capital Accra ahead of the All-Africa Games scheduled for March 2024.

Other members of the Rugby Africa inspection team include, Competitions Manager at Rugby Africa Johnbosco Muamba, President of Burkina Faso Rugby Federation Rolande Boro and the President of Togolese Rugby Federation Bedembda Bedinade.

The construction of the Accra rugby stadium started after an announcement of an agreement between all technical partners including the government of Ghana and the African Union to allow Ghana to host the All-Africa Games in 2024. The tournament was originally scheduled for 2023 but was later postponed to March 2024.

“After extensive discussions with the Local Organizing Committee of Ghana headed by Dr. Kwaku Asare, Rugby Africa will be participating in next year’s All Africa games. This has been confirmed. So we are expecting all the rugby nations in Africa to be present and to participate”, Herbert Mensah said ahead of the Rugby Africa inspection tour.

He added, “The question is where we play? We have national stadiums for football and other games. And Ghana has lots of that. But I am pleased to say that after extensive discussions with Ghana’s Local Organizing Committee, it’s been confirmed that a dedicated stadium for rugby is being built currently. And we’ve been able to negotiate to a point where we are taking a team headed by some of our finest to go to the stadium at the University of Ghana and to have meetings with the contractors and those responsible for constructing the stadium to make sure that it is of the right standard for Rugby Africa”.

Herbert Mensah also said the Rugby Africa team in Accra will get into discussions with authorities on the suitability of the Accra rugby stadium and what is required for the construct of the stadium.

“Rugby Africa has great plans for the development of the game on the continent, one of which is to encourage countries and governments to build dedicated stadiums and parks for rugby matches and trainings at the same time. And no better way to kick it off than this one in Accra, Ghana”, said Mensah.

The infrastructure being built for the All Africa Games falls in line with Rugby Africa’s competition’s structure where regional and national infrastructure is critical.

“As we look forward as part of the Rugby Africa program, we understand that we need to relook, revisit our competitions structure. We need to look at a regional basis to operate so we can have regional competitions per countries and hopefully one day for clubs at the same time”, added the President of Rugby Africa.

Herbert Mensah is hopeful for the future of Rugby Africa competitions. “Venues to play obviously are fundamental to that. The stadium in Accra will provide an excellent hub. We are looking at and talking to those in Abidjan and I know that in Abuja, Nigeria, they have a stadium which will also be allocated for playing rugby. And this allows us at the competitions committee of Rugby Africa to look very seriously at competitions regionally organized and knowing that we have the right kind of stadia, the right kind of infrastructure to support this beautiful sport of ours.”

Created in 1986, Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), previously the African Confederation of Rugby (Confédération Africaine de Rugby – CAR), is one of the six regional associations composing World Rugby (www.WorldRugby.org), the international organization responsible for the governing of Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens. Rugby Africa unites all African countries which play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes the qualifying competition for the Rugby World Cup, and Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. Rugby Africa has 39 members unions.

SOURCE Rugby Africa