Mr. George Lamptey, President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF) has commended Twellium Industrial Company for supporting and refreshing boxers, officials and guests at the Special Boxing Night in honour of the late President Jerry John Rawlings held at the Bukom Square.

He said the event was well attended and the boxers exhibited great talent to prove that Ghana has talent for the future.

According to the GBFA President, the Black Bombers who featured on the bill are preparing for the world Olympic Qualifier in Paris, France and has tipped one or two more boxers to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Already Samuel Takyi and Suleiman Tetteh have qualified at the African Qualifier held in Dakar, Senegal.

Mr. George Lamptey appealed to corporate Ghana to support the Black Bombers in their quest for Olympic medals.

The Amateur Boxing Night in honour of the late Rawlings saw most of juvenile boxers thrilling the fans.

Twellium are the producers of Verna Mineral Water and Rush Energy Drinks.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Technical Directorate of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is pleased to announce that the application process for the CAF/GFA License D coaching course is open.

The application opened on Thursday, November 19, 2020 and will go on for a period of three weeks, ending on Friday, December 11, 2020.

The Technical Directorate will collaborate with all the ten Regional Football Associations' (RFAs), to decide the dates, venue and fee for the course.

Interested applicants are requested to contact the Regional Football Associations’(RFAs), for any further enquiries.

Kindly find attached the Email address of all the ten Regional Football Associations.

By ghanafa.org

The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) will on January 21, 2021, hold an election to elect new Executives.

The umbrella body of clubs in the country is currently headed by Mr. Kudjoe Fianoo as its chairman.

After serving a term of 4 years with other executives from the last election, they are now set to head to the polls to seek an additional term to serve.

In a press release from GHALCA signed by Administrative Manager James Kofi Gawe, they have confirmed that the elections have been slated for January.

According to the release, the Election Rules and Regulations will be made available to candidates when they pick up forms.

Forms to contest for the chairmanship position will cost GHS500 while a person seeking to be vice-chairman will be required to pay a sum of GHS400.

Meanwhile, Kudjoe Fianoo has confirmed that he will be contesting in the upcoming GHALCA election to retain his chairman position.

From Elizabeth Alhassan

Presidential adviser on health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare has disclosed that Accra Hearts of Oak has been given the green light to participate in the ongoing 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League.

The Phobians couldn’t honour their matchday one fixture against Aduana Stars at the Nana Agyemang Badu II Park after they recorded a high number of positive cases of the Coronavirus in their camp.

Their matchday two game against Ashantigold was also in doubt but according to Dr. Nsiah Asare, they have been cleared to play football after their latest Coronavirus tests came out negative.

Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare made this known in an interview with Bright Kankam Boadu on Kumasi-based Pure FM.

“Accra Hearts of Oak players and the technical staff have tested negative and are free to compete in any competition. I will advise them and all the clubs to adhere to all the protocols and keep on wearing their nose masks.”

Accra Hearts of Oak will now take on Ashantigold at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Ghanaweb

For the first time since February 2020, the IOC’s Coordination Commission Chair, John Coates, returned to Japan with IOC President Thomas Bach for the joint International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Tokyo 2020 Project Review.

The meetings, held between 16 and 18 November, reaffirmed the full commitment of all partners to deliver Olympic and Paralympic Games fit for a post-corona world next year. Speaking afterwards, Chair Coates said: “This is a very positive sign that we’ve been able to return to Japan at this point in preparations. Discussions over the last three days have reinforced our joint determination to hold safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Close collaboration and regular communications with our friends in Japan, partners across the world and the entire Olympic Movement have once again shown we are stronger together.”

He continued: “This solidarity and unity will help us deliver Games fit for a post-corona world, providing a light at the end of the dark tunnel following this incredibly difficult period for humanity. While the next few months will be crucial, remarkable progress has already been made and, with positive momentum, we will continue to support Tokyo 2020 throughout the upcoming challenges as we prepare to hold an unforgettable Games in 2021."

The President of the IPC, Andrew Parsons, who joined remotely, added: “Never before in history has such a level of planning and preparation gone into the organisation of a major sport event. No stone is being left unturned as all partners work together to ensure safe, secure and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer in Tokyo.

“This level of work and commitment by all Games delivery partners will not be in vain. After a terrible 2020, we are determined that 2021 will bring new hope. The Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be a celebration of human diversity and ability, a global showcase of resilience, and the starting point for a better, more inclusive post-corona world.”

Strong cooperation through regular forums such as the “Here We Go” and “All-Partner” task forces remains the driving factor behind Tokyo 2020’s progress. This has been evident in regular joint communications with stakeholders such as the recent Chef de Mission Webinars, IF Seminar, Virtual World Broadcasters Briefing and a Press Operations Update.

All parties agreed on the importance of clear and timely communications over the coming months, with a project to develop a series of playbooks outlined during meetings. Created by the IOC, IPC and Tokyo 2020, these will be designed as guidelines for each stakeholder group and will include important information about the measures that will be in place and what it will mean for their Games experience.

A key element within these playbooks will be details of COVID-19 countermeasures. This topic was covered in great detail during the Project Review as work continues to identify optimal solutions to host the Games next year in a safe and secure environment, to protect both the local Japanese population and all visitors, including athletes, officials and spectators.

Discussions on this subject focused on creating a toolbox of measures ready to implement depending on the situation next July. Updates were provided on the development of vaccines, testing and infection control, and also covered stakeholder journeys to Japan, during the Games and departure.

A key part of this process has been learning from the resumption of top tier sport across the world, with findings regularly shared amongst delivery partners. It was noted that sport’s return has also contributed to increasing confidence amongst stakeholders, particularly in Japan where, for example, professional football and baseball events have been welcoming thousands of spectators in recent weeks.

This positive momentum was further illustrated earlier this month as the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), in partnership with the Japan Gymnastics Association, successfully delivered the “Friendship and Solidarity Competition”. This event welcomed athletes from four countries and over 2,000 spectators to the event held in Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium, the venue for the handball, badminton and wheelchair rugby competitions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

While continuing on the topic of health and safety, updates on heat countermeasures were provided following a number of tests in recent months. In addition, all parties reiterated their determination to explore further opportunities for optimisations and simplifications following the recent announcement of more than 50 measures that will deliver an estimated USD 280 million in cost savings from the operational budget.

International Olympic Committee i

MTN Ghana’s Corporate Social Investment projects have received massive recognition at the 2020 edition of the Sustainability and Social Investment Awards for the transformational CSR initiatives it has implemented to promote social change and positively impact lives in the country. 

MTN Ghana Foundation received the following awards: Sustainable Scholarship of the year, Best company in Supporting National Projects, Best Company in Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation, Best COVID-19 Awareness Campaign (Wear it for Me) and Best COVID-19 Employee Volunteering Initiative (21 Days of Y’ello Care). The Executive Secretary of the MTN Ghana Foundation Mr. Robert Kuzoe was named the SSI Personality of the Year.

Receiving his award, Mr. Kuzoe said, “Personally, I am humbled by this award.  My award and the others received are an assurance that our interventions are not in vain, we are indeed impacting lives.”

Corporate Service Executive of MTN Ghana, Samuel Koranteng said, “I am excited with the awards received and we dedicate it to our development partners and the beneficiary communities. The MTN Ghana Foundation will continue to invest in communities through the implementation of meaningful and sustainable projects.”

Mr. Koranteng congratulated the MTN Ghana Foundation team and Board members for consistently implementing life changing projects in Ghana.

The Sustainability and Social Investment Awards seeks to create awareness, encourage and award companies, CSI/CSR Foundations, NGOs and other implementing agencies in delivering high impact CSI/CSR projects that aligns with Government’s focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and also adopt multi stakeholder approach leading to excellent outcomes.

The MTN Ghana Foundation since its establishment in 2007, has implemented over 150 projects in its focus areas of Health, Education and Economic Empowerment in communities across the country.

In a period where significant resources are being channelled to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the MTN Ghana Foundation has been at the forefront of the business’ efforts in supporting the Government of Ghana curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Key among such interventions are the donation of GHS 5 million worth of medical supplies, PPE and other essentials to National COVID Trust Fund, the distribution of 85,000 face masks to various hospitals and clinics nationwide and the donation of digital equipment to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ace Ghanaian international boxing referee / judge Roger Barnor is in Jumeirak, Dubai from Tuesday to Thursday undertaking a seminar for boxing ring officials.

The seminar is organized World African Boxing Authority WABA, headed by the evergreen Onesmus Ngow.

The three day event is certified by the USA based Association of Professional Boxing Association (APBC) and Boxers Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Union (BMMAFU) and Commission of Boxing Association (CofBA) respectively.

WABA's "Top Wigs" in attendance included the President and Chair of the Board Hon. Ky Col. Onesmo Alfred McBride Ngowi from Tanzania, Director of Human Resources Management (DHRM) Irene Joseph Magebo from Tanzania, Commissioner to the Middle East Persian and Samoa Zack Taumafai from Samoa/Australia and Commissioner to the Middle East, Persian Gulf and Iran Payam Honari from Iran/Use.

Others were WABA Commissioners to French speaking European countries Didier Le Borgne from France who was also a trainer of Kickboxing and Muaythai, Commissioner to Malawi  Agnes Mtimakunena from Malawi and trainer of the MMA Lorenzo Borgomeo from Italy.

Roger Barnor, an expert of ring officials training captured both interests and minds of participants with his two hour's sophisticated presentation which quenched the thirst of boxing stakeholders in attendance.

Barnor, who doubles as the international referee certified by several sanction bodies and the Vice Chairperson of the Ring Officials Committee of the Association of Professional Boxing Association (APBC) took participants through stages of ring officials.

Buyoyed by tremendous enthusiasm from attending participants and the state of the art of the Ringside Gym Global's facilities, Barnor delivered perhaps one of the best seminars in recent times.

While articulating both roles of referee and judges with their responsibilities inside the ring (referees) and at ringside (judges), the Ghanaian seem to posses immense knowledge as boxing expert whose cardinal objective is to promote careers and safety of the boxers.

"Boxing being the sweet science should provide avenues to boxers to further their fighting careers while at the same time protects and sustains their lives" said Roger Barnor.

Participants enjoyed array levels of pedagogical training on how to best handle boxers and control surging crowds in boxing venues.

He used videos to illustrate his mental capacity of ring knowledge as they prepares for a date in the ring. He alluded that attitude, honest, fairness and impatiality provides sustainable careers to boxers.

"A good ring official should put his feet in boxers' boots so that he can render impartial decision" he emphasized.

The Dubai's ring officials training seminar is organized by the Ringside Gym Global of Dubai and Coordinated by the World Africa Boxing Association (WABA).

The training seminar in Dubai witnessed inspiring boxing seminar spiced by videos presentation, real time ring sparing and questionnaires to participants.

The Basic stage training seminar will to be followed by the "Standard" and "Advanced" levels in April and November 2021 respectively.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

The Mixed Doubles Category was won by Wicki Reto and Yvonne Bruce-Tagoe

The 8th edition of the biggest tennis doubles event in Ghana, Babolat Tema Doubles Tennis Open came to an end in a grand style on Sunday, 15th November 2020.

The tournament themed “Love All Tennis for Peace” was climaxed with a colourful closing ceremony that took place at the TOR Clubhouse.

Since 2013, organizers of Babolat Tema Doubles Tennis Open, Baboo Sports, have among other things created a platform to unearth talents for the Junior National teams. A pleasant recall was when Ghana’s gold-winning team at the 2015 African Games Tennis used the 2015 Babolat Tema Doubles Open as prepping grounds.

This year’s tournament saw the introduction of the wheelchair tennis doubles category, for the first time in the competition. The Wheelchair tennis doubles category was one of the new initiatives by organizers this year, in a quest to achieve Baboo's goal of making Tennis in Ghana all-inclusive while helping to develop and promote Wheelchair tennis in Ghana. Bernard Tagoe and Isaac Yawson emerged as winners of the Wheelchair category, beating Abdullar Sufu and Abdul Razak Nuhu in the final.

In the Mixed Doubles Category, Favorites; Wicki Reto and Yvonne Bruce- Tagoe maintained their consistency throughout the tournament, before producing a masterclass to clinch gold, ahead of Faustina Tagoe and David Naawu.

David Kisseh and debutant Ato Debordes knocked out Paa Kofi Grant and Nartey Isaac in the final to win the veterans duel in the above 50s Men’s category.

The young talented duo of Desmond Ayaaba and Emmanuel Antwi were phenomenal on the day as they clinched the U18 Boys title from Eric and Bright Nertey.

In the Social 1 category (category designed for the person who play tennis as a hobby), Albert Arthur and Raymond Hayford narrowly beat Seth Mingle and Prince Ablorh in final, while Y. Akotwa and Okang were at their best when they came up against Agyeman and Zweness.

Ghana’s number 1 seed in the ladies singles, Yvonne Tagoe also clinched her second title on the day after winning the ladies doubles with Naa Mckorley . Yvonne and Yamak flourished with a blend of experience and well-harnessed techniques helped them overcome Tracy Ampah and Augustina Yamak.

It took a tie-breaker to crown Johnson Acquah and Roland Tottimeh champions in the Professionals category, after a difficult encounter with Frederick Mbano and Jeff Bagerbaseh.

Winners in each category were awarded a trophy, a piece of the latest Babolat racket, Babolat bag, a pair of Babolat shoes, apparel, and a one-month gym assessment.

Runners up were given the same prizes except for a trophy.

Speaking at the sideline of the event, Ghana Tennis Federation Board Member, Mr Jesse Ato Desbordes stated that tournaments like this (Babolat Tema Tennis Doubles) are bringing Ghana Tennis to the limelight.

“Tennis in Ghana is coming up gradually, in the past, it used to be in the shadow, but tournaments like this and others that are coming up we are bringing Ghana tennis into the limelight. With time we will be able to solve any problems we are facing.”

The Babolat Tema Tennis doubles, over the years has served as a platform to unearth tennis talents and project the image of the game in Ghana.

Source - Babolat Tennis

Head Coach of Ghana’s Female Senior National team (Black Queens), Mercy Tagoe Quarcoo has named a provisional 30 squad list for an upcoming friendly game against their Moroccan counterparts scheduled for November 30.

The called up players and technical team members are to report to camp at the GFA Technical Centre (GSCE), Prampram on Thursday and undergo the mandatory Covid19 test on arrival.

Below are the invited players for the match

NAME        CLUB

Fafali Dumehasi    Police ladies FC

Abigail Tawiah-Mensah  Berry ladies FC

Azume Adams      Prisons Ladies FC

Mary NiiQuaye     Immigration ladies FC

Janet Egyir  Hasaacas Ladies FC

Linda Eshun         Hasaacas Ladies FC

Philicity Asuako   Police ladies FC

Victoria Osei         Berry ladies FC

Selina Animah      Berry ladies FC

Gladys Anfobea    Lady Strikers FC

Beatrice Sasu        Police ladies FC

Ellen Coleman      Lady Strikers FC

Edem Atovor        Lady Strikers FC

Juliet Acheampong         Prisons Ladies FC

Mary Essiful         Soccer Intellectuals

Priscilla Okyere     Ampim-Darkoa Ladies FC

Grace Adams        Berry ladies FC

Basira Alhassan     Pearl Pia Ladies FC

Henrietta Annie     Police ladies FC

Alice Kusi   Fabulous ladies FC

N-yanyimaya Gnabekan  Berry ladies FC

Bridget Adu          Berry ladies FC

Rashida Ibrahim    Berry ladies FC

Sandra Owusu-Ansah     Supreme Ladies FC

Faustina Kyeremeh         Immigration ladies FC

Deborah Afriyie    Police ladies FC

Georgina Aoyem   Pearl Pia Ladies FC

Grace Animah       Police ladies FC

Rita Okyere Prisons Ladies FC

Alberta Ahialey     Portugal

GFA

Black Stars coach, Charles Akonnor has assured Ghanaians that the team will qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, scheduled for 2022 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ghana’s chances of qualifying for the continental showpiece with two games to spare, hit a snag, as Sudan defeated the Black Stars by a lone goal at the Al-Hilal Sports Stadium in Omdurman on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Ghana will now have to win either of their games with São Tomé and Príncipe and South Africa before they can book their qualification for the tournament.

Despite the team’s inability to qualify before the last round of games, coach Akonnor has assured Ghanaians that Ghana will be among the 24 teams that will feature in the next Africa Cup of Nations.

“What I can say is we’ll learn from the mistakes we’ve made and of course in March we have two matches coming on.

“I strongly believe and I can assure Ghanaians that we’ll do our best to qualify,” coach Charles Akonnor said after the death of Sudan.