Ghana’s poor performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games raised a lot of concerns about the future of sports in Ghana. In a bid to ensure better performances in sports, the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) awards is in support of the Ghana Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Clement Kofi Humado’s call for greater participation in sports from Africans, especially Ghanaians ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Dr Edward Omane Boamah (Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports) has stated that Ghana will send 200 athletes to the next Olympics Games, following the nation’s inability to win a medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Mr Kojo Bonsu assured that the target of producing 200 athletes to reach the next Olympic Games is achievable.
“One of the biggest solutions is for government to decrease the percentage of funds invested into football considerably. If we are currently investing 80% for football it should drop to 60%. Money must be invested, and by doing that, coaches will be sent out to gain experience and some will be brought in to improve our technical capacity.” Mr Kojo Bonsu also suggested that talented Ghanaian athletes in the diaspora can be drafted into the national squad.
Former Ghana and Accra Hearts goalkeeper, Ali Jarra, has added his voice to the discussions over Team Ghana’s abysmal performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games, advocating the re-introduction of the scholarship scheme to help train athletes. In an interview, Ali Jarra, the current Head Coach of the Ghana National Amputee Football Team (The Black Challenge), explained that the scheme would offer young sports men and women the opportunity to train in well-built training facilities in educational institutions in other countries. He further expressed that: “Since we do not have the facilities here and there is no indication of plans to build them soon, it would be better to offer scholarships to athletes to attend schools that have such facilities, to give them the exposure to be put at the nation’s disposal,”.
He also appealed to all stakeholders to be positively involved in the attempt to make progress for the future if Rio 2016 is deemed to be too soon.
The Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) awards, an organization that celebrates the achievements of Ghanaians in the UK and around the world, confirms their partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports as a way to help ensure that adequate and proactive measures are adapted to boost Ghana’s chances in Brazil.
GUBA maintains that it is imperative for young people in Ghana to be encouraged to participate in sports, and pleads for more transparency and objectivity from governments and sporting councils.
GUBA teamed up with award winning musicians to produce its single; ‘Africa’s time to shine’ to support Africans especially the Ghanaians athletes who took part in the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic games. The team comprised of award winning engineer Kaywa and featured talented artists such as: Efya, Ayigbe Edem, Stonebwoy, Derry from XFactor UK, Ruff and Smooth, GUBA Best New music acts nominees: Stephanie and Lyrical Solider and Dentaa (Founder of GUBA).
The founder of GUBA, Dentaa hopes this partnership will help improve Ghana’s performance and sporting image in the future. GUBA’s alliance with the Sports Minister is an appeal for better funding and management of athletes, to ensure a better representation of Ghana in future Olympic Games.
The Single: GUBA Africa’s time to shine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKQIT1xvFUw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Notes to Editor
Ghana entered the London competition with only nine Olympians; 3 athletes, 4 boxers, 1 weight-lifter and a judoka who either did not qualify or had to withdraw due to medical problems. Even though Ghana is known for its excellence in boxing, Maxwell Amponsah, Duke Micah, Isaac Dogbe and Suleiman Tetteh failed to prove this. In the history of Ghana’s participation at the Olympic Games, the country has never won gold but silver and three bronze medals
Africa’s involvements over the years have not been entirely impressive however the East and North Africans never fail to shine in athletics. Kenya’s David Rudisha (Kenya), Taoufik Makhloufi (Algeria) and Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda) all won gold at this year’s Olympic Games.
There are four Paralympians for the Ghanaian team: Raphael Botsyo (100m wheelchair race) Anita Fodjour (wheelchair racing), Charles Narh Teye (powerlifting) and Alem Mumuni (Para cyclist).
All medals won by Africans at the 2012 Olympics.
Men
Gold: David Rudisha (800 m, Kenya), Taoufik Makhloufi (1500 m, Algeria), Ezekiel Kemboi (3000 m steeple, Kenya), Stephen Kiprotich (marathon, Uganda),
Silver : Nijel Amos (800 m, Botswana), Abel Kiprop Mutai (3000 m steeple, Kenya), Dejen Gebremeskel (5000 m, Ethiopia), Abel Kirui (marathon Kenya).
Bronze: Thomas Longosiwa (5000 m, Ethiopia), Timothy Kitum (800 m, Kenya), Wilson Kipsang (marathon, Kenya), Abdelaati Iguider (1500 m, Morocco);
Women
Gold: Meseret Degfar (5000 m, Ethiopia), Tiki Gelana (marathon, Ethiopia),
Silver: Vivian Cheruiyot (5000 m, Kenya), Priscah Jeptoo (marathon Kenya), Sally Kipyego (10 000 m, Kenya), Caster Semenya (800m, South Africa); Habiba Ghribi (3000 m steeple, Tunisia)
Bronze: Tirunesh Dibaba (5000m, Ethiopia), Vivian Cheruiyot (10 000 m, Kenya), Sofia Asefa (3000 m steeple, Ethiopia),
About Ghana UK Based Achievement Awards (GUBA)
The GUBA Awards is a non-profit award celebrating the excellent achievements of Ghanaians living in Britain and acknowledging the valuable services of UK based organizations to Ghanaians in the UK or Ghana. GUBA Awards is in its third year and aims at extending the awards to the wider African community in the UK. You can find out more about GUBA via the following links: www.gubaawards.co.uk; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f_FdHBQj-Y
For further information please contact:
George Ameyaw
07956945360
