Commonwealth Games Ghana has organized a well attended one-day workshop on building sports brands through Social media at the media center of the Accra Sports Stadium.

Speaking at the event, chairman of 2023 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare spoke on social media and branding.

Social Media:

-Helps in globalization and socialization.

-It helps the individuals to interact.

-It creates emotional connectivity.

-Connects to consumers .

Branding:

-Journalists should support federations to brand themselves which can help various sports win medals.

-The journalists should be mindful of what they put on social media.

-Reporting on lesser known sports helps in branding

-Understanding the game also helps in reporting of the game.

-Brand the game well by good reportage.

University of Ghana Business School lecturer, Dr. Kobby Mensah, also talked about building sports brands through journalism. He touched on brand management, brand journalism, branding terminology (Brand Awareness and Brand Association). Brand Image, Brand Identity, Brand Personality.

Speaking to ghanatennis.org, President of Commonwealth Games Ghana, Ben Nuno Mensah said, "I am happy with turnout of events especially the media. Hope the workshop will have great impact on their reportage and how the media can use social media and branding to help lesser known sports.”

Some sports personalities present were Chairperson of the Women's Commission on Sports, Madam Elizabeth King, Executive Director of WISA, Madam Gloria Commodore and President of WOSPAG, Mrs Joyce Mahama.

Others who graced the program were the President of Ghana Netball, Rev. Nikoi, President of Ghana Volleyball, Mr. Paul Atchoe, President of Ghana Boxing Federation  Mr. George Lamptey and Mr. Evans Yeboah, President of Ghana Badminton.

Ace media personality, Mr. Sammy Heywood Okine aka General One who coordinated the workshop said more of such capacity building programmes would he organized for Federations heads and others. He commended the participants for their compartment and contributions during the programme.

Over 50 sports journalists who took part in the workshop were awarded certificates.

The educative programme was sponsored by Papaye Fast Foods, Twellium Industrial Company, Jay Kay Industries & Investments Limited, AshFoam Ghana Limited and CODA.

By Gabby Amoako

Felix Kwame Akafo and Georgina Andoh top at 2020 MTN Invitational Golf

100 golfers from all over the nation took part in the 2020 MTN Invitational Golf Tournament which took place at the Celeibrity Golf Club at Sakumono on Saturday.

At the end of healthy encounters, Felix Kwame Akafo came out winning the Men’s Group A with 41 points, he was followed by Ellias K. with 39 points and Christopher Mbii who got 38 points.

Okoe Tackie won the Men’s Group B with 47 points, followed by Ross Han with 39 points and Alex Oppong – Bafour also at 39 points.

Georgina Andoh placed first in the Ladies Category with a score of 43 (33). Leticia Amponsah Mensah was second with 34 (10) and Helen Amponsah placed third on 43 (33), while Vivian Dick took the fourth position with a score 32 (16).

Charles Mantey won the Senior’s event with 37 points. He was followed by Jimmy Thorme with 30 points and Esther Antwi with 22 points, while the Elder’s trophy was taken by Mrs. Owusu Adyapong.

Closest to the pin was won by Isaac Awuni, while Christopher Mbii took the prize for the Men Longest drive.

Flora Hurtubiase won the Ladies longest drive and closest to the pin trophies. All the winners received special prizes from MTN, the sponsor.

Mr. Ishmael Yamson, board chairman of MTN Ghana eulogized the late Dr. Plange Rhule in whose memory the tournament was held. He commended the organisers for sustaining the event for the past eight years, despite challenges.

He expressed that consistent playing of golf has helped the winners.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku has been named 2nd Vice President of the West African Football Union (WAFU ) Zone B as per the Statutes of the Union.

Mr. Okraku became President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following closely contested elections held in Accra last year.

The soft-spoken football administrator has won many admirers with his approach to issues since ascending on the throne.

He is widely hailed for changing the narrative by being transparent and accountable to the football fraternity.

Mr. Okraku holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Ghana, trained as a journalist at the Ghana Institute of Journalism and also an MBA holder from the University of Liverpool. While in the UK, he also received various certificates in marketing, hospitality and tourism management.

The former Dreams FC bankroller is an astute football administrator and has his name synonymous with football administration serving on various executive committees of the Ghana Football Association as well as the national team, Ghana Black Stars.

He again served as the administrative manager of Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) from 2008 to 2010.

Before ascending the eminent GFA Presidential throne, Mr. Simeon-Okraku was the Chairman of the MTN FA Cup Committee, a position he held flawlessly to the admiration of all and Sundry.

He is therefore in no doubt well-equipped to hold the fort on the West African Zonal front.

Source: Ghana Soccernet

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