Sports Minister Shares Vision For Tokyo 2020

Minister of Youth and Sports (MoYS), Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has revealed his vision for the Olympic games in 2020(Tokyo) as a proactive measure to groom athletes who can win honours for the country.

Ghana recorded one of its worst performance in this year’s Rio Olympic games as none of its athletes was able to progress pass the first round.

The Sports Minister, during the awards ceremony at the just-ended Milo Marathon, highlighted how young athletes, who took part in the event would be given special attention by the state ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

He explained that the Winneba Sports College would be revamped so that athletes could be camped there, groomed and given the chance to participate in several races so as to make them good competitors at the global level in the near future.

Meanwhile, the MoYS is expecting a report from the Ghana Olympics Committee on the personal best they did at the just-ended summer Rio Olympics games.

The report will be given to a 5-member commission/committee for recommendations as the nation plans for Tokyo 2020.

Sports Minister Shares Vision For Tokyo 2020

I"m Yet To Consider Re-running - Prof. Dodoo

President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Professor Francis Dodoo, has indicated that he has not yet decided on his intention to vie again for the presidential position of the committee but is rather focused on putting things in order.

The GOC has been heavily criticized, especially after Ghana’s poor showing at this year’s Rio Olympics where none of her athletes failed to go pass the first round.

President Dodoo claims he is not considering re-election to office after the expiry of his tenure, against the backdrop of agitation by various federation heads to stage an early congress which is a constitutional mandate.

“We have received a petition from various federation heads, seeking an early congress, we have met and deliberated on it as a committee. Now, we have given it to up to our lawyer for advice and we shall get back to them soon.

“I have been under pressure for some months now, and I’m undecided as to seeking another term of office, but I’m concentrated on putting things together to prevent what happened in 2011.”

Professor Dodoo came into office back in 2011 through a congress that was done at dawn, ousting past president, B.T Baba.

I"m Yet To Consider Re-running - Prof. Dodoo

Nii Lante Congratulates Team Ghana

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuye, on behalf of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama and  Government of Ghana has sent  congratulatory message to Team Ghana for representing the country, at the just ended 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

 

The Hon .Minister thanked Team Ghana for making the qualification to the games and said even though they were not able to perform to the expectations of all Ghanaians, they have improved their world ranking.

 

Hon.Nii Lante Vanderpuye urged the athletes to put into practice lessons learnt from the just ended competition and to also start training in earnest towards the 2020 Olympic Games.

According to the Hon. Minister, considering the ages of the athletes, they have a brighter future ahead of them and all they needed now, is how to keep their focus and become better athletes in future.

 

“Moments like this should fill our hearts with joy and hope for our athletes to make them feel proud that they represented a grateful nation.Though the national aspiration may not have been met, we welcome them back home with pride” he said.

 

The Hon. Minister thanked the trainers and management team for their hard work and urged them not to relent in their efforts to ensure that the athletes are better groomed for the next Olympic Games.

Nii Lante Congratulates Team Ghana

Dogboe To Fight Filipino In Unification Bout

WBO Africa featherweight champion, Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe (14-0, 9 KOs) will fight WBO Oriental featherweight champion, John Neil Tabanao (13-1,9KOs) in a unification bout at the Police Officers’ Social & Fitness Centre in Accra on Friday,August 26, 2016.

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Dogboe, in June, retained his WBO African Featherweight Title against Uganda’s Edward ‘Shaka’ Kakembo (11-1, 3Ko) after knocking him out in the sixth round in a bout staged at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Dogboe is vigorously training at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, ahead of the bout. Meanwhile, its presser is scheduled for August 24, 2016.

Dogboe To Fight Filipino In Unification Bout

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Sprinter,Janet Amponsah Bows Out After Placing Sixth

Ghana’s Sprinter, Janet Amponsah, has bowed out of the women’s 200 metres race in this years’ Rio Olympics after placing sixth in the first round of the women’s heat.

Amponsah recorded a time of 23.67 in Heat four of the first round contest which consisted of the reigning 100m champion, Elaine Thompson(Jamaica) who progressed together with Marie-Josee Ta Lou (Ivory Coast) and Gina Lückenkemper( Germany).

 

Seven Ghanaian athletes including swimmers Abeiku Jackson and Kaya forson as well as judoka Sandra Szogedi, weightlifter Christian Amoah, Flings Owusu-Agyapong, Sean Safo-Antwi and Alex Amankwah have already exited the competition.

 

Up next for Ghana is Emmanuel Dasor, who would also attempt to challenge himself to a good run in the opening heats of the race at 11.50 am (14:50 GMT) tomorrow.

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Sprinter,Janet Amponsah Bows Out After Placing Sixth

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Sprinter Amponsah Steps Up Today

Ghana’s sole representative in the women’s 200m race at the Rio Olympics, Janet Amponsah, takes her turn at the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange tracks this morning at 9.35am (12:35 GMT).

 

The 23-year-old, who won silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, has a personal best of 22.99 secs, and would be facing huge names like Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain, Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, Canada’s Andre De Grasse and Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, who won the women’s 100m finals at the games on Saturday night.

In snatching gold, the 24-year-old Thompson ended the eight-year Olympic reign of her training partner and compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the thrilling final in a stunning 10.71 the second-fastest winning time in the history of the women’s Olympic 100m final.

Fraser-Pryce had to settle for bronze in 10.86.

Even though Janet might not be running in the same heat with Thompson, this morning’s contest is absolutely a Himalayan undertaking for the ‘poor’ girl but she has no other option than to rub shoulders with some of the finest generation of athletes in the 200m event.

However, if she makes an unlikely berth to the semis which would be ran tomorrow night, with the final on Wednesday at 10.30pm local time (1.30am GMT), then Janet’s name will surely be embedded in gold in Ghana – even if she wins nothing for her effort.

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Sprinter Amponsah Steps Up Today

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Boxer Wahid Eliminated By Argentine"s Pro Boxer

Ghana’s Abdul Wahid Omar lost to Argentine’s Pro Alberto Ezequiel Melian  in the Men’s 56kg Bantamweight bout yesterday as he failed to progress to the round of 16.

Ghana’s sole boxer at this years’ event was hoping to reignite Ghana’s Olympic dream with a spirited performance but failed in his quest

 

All three judges scored the bout 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 all in favor of Melian who really showed his class as an Amateur International Boxing Authority(AIBA) Pro.

 

Ghana is now left with twelve athletes in contention for medals at the Games, after two swimmers Kaya Forson and Abeiku Jackson and a judoka athlete Szandra Szogedi  got eliminated from the competition earlier.

 

Up next for Ghana is Weightlifter Christian Amoah who will compete in the Men’s 85kg category today becoming the first Male Weightlifter for Ghana at the Olympics.

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Boxer Wahid Eliminated By Argentine"s Pro Boxer

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Swimmer Records His Personal Best But Fails To Progress

Ghana’s prodigy Abeiku Jackson recorded his personal best in the men’s 50m freestyle in this years’ Rio Olympics but was not enough to grant him qualification into the next stage of the competition after finishing seventh.

The 16-year-old swimmer recorded his personal best of 24.30  in the men heat demonstrating some real energy in the pool but failed in his quest.

Jackson after breaking the national record which stood at 24.74 earlier this year in the national championship after  he recorded a time of 24.41 in the 50 metres freestyle.

Ghana are now left with twelve athletes in contention for medals at the Games, after another swimmer Kaya Forson,judoka Szandra Szogedi and boxer Abdul Wahid Omar got eliminated from the competition earlier.

Rio 2016 : Ghana"s Swimmer Records His Personal Best But Fails To Progress

Rio 2016 : Ghanaian Athletes Hold First Training Session (Photos)

Ghanaian Track and field athletes today held their first training session ahead of the Rio Olympics that kicks starts tomorrow.

 

Below are photos of the training session.

Flings Owusu Agyapong

Janet Amponsah

Sarfo antwi (left) and Emmanuel Dasor (Right)

 

Ghana is represented by 11 track and field athletes namely Flings Owusu-Agyapong (100m),Janet Amponsah (200m),John Ampomah (Javelin),Emmanuel Dasor (200m),Alex Amankwah (800m),Sean Safo-Antwi (100m), Gemma Acheampong(4*100m), Beatrice Gyaman (4*100m), Dorcas Gyimah (4*100m), Persis William-Mensah (4*100m), and Akua Obeng-Akrofi(4*100m)

Rio 2016 : Ghanaian Athletes Hold First Training Session (Photos)

Rio 2016 : Ghana Names Flings Owusu-Agyapong as Flag Bearer

Ghanaian Sprinter Flings Owusu-Agyapong will be Ghana’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio whilst John Ampomah has been named captain of Team Ghana.

 

The 27 -year old  runner will lead Ghana’s contingent on Friday at the 78,000 Maracana Stadium.

 

The sprinter is also part of the fastest female 100m quartet in Africa together with Gemma Acheampong,Janet Amponsah and Beatrice Gyaman having recorded the fastest time ever, and are in poll position of winning Ghana it first medal in Track and field in Rio.

 

Team Ghana will be represented by 11 track and field athletes, two swimmers, one weightlifter, one judoka and a boxer.

Rio 2016 : Ghana Names Flings Owusu-Agyapong as Flag Bearer

We are not Sending any Money To Brazil - GOC

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has reiterated that they are not sending any money to Brazil especially after what happened during Ghana’s participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in that country.

The dramatic faction by which monies where carried to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil was accompanied with ridicule by majority of Ghanaians.

In an interview with Accra based radio station Starr FM, Secretary General of GOC, Richard Akpokavi said: “We are not sending any amount to Brazil it will be given when we return. But the current Minister has promised a motivation package for those who get to the semi-finals of any event”.

Team Ghana  will be represented by 11 track and field athletes, two swimmers, one weightlifter, one judoka and a boxer, there are high hopes of Ghana winning its first Olympic medal in the track and field events as well as the afore-mentioned disciplines.

 

We are not Sending any Money To Brazil - GOC

Rio 2016 Update : Ghanaian Athletes Will Receive $5000 For Winning Gold

The Ghana Olympic Committee(GOC) has revealed that any athlete who wins gold at the Rio Olympics will receive $5000 whilst athletes who pick up silver and bronze will be awarded $3000 and $2000 respectively.

 

Ghana’s contingent comprises of 11 track and field athletes, two swimmers, one weightlifter, one judoka and a boxer, there are high hopes of Ghana winning its first Olympic medal in the track and field events as well as the mentioned disciplines.

 

In an interview with Accra based radio station Starr fm, The Secretary General of GOC Richard Akpokavi said: “it is the normal cash rewards that will go to them (athletes). We are not sending any amount to Brazil it will be given when we return.”

 

“This I think will motivate the athletes to go far in all disciplines we are presenting”,

 

Akpokavi also revealed that these rewards will also be followed by special packages from the Sports Ministry for athletes who make semi-final berth.

 

Team Ghana departed for the Olympic Games yesterday and are currently at the Games Village in Rio.

 

 

 

Rio 2016 Update : Ghanaian Athletes Will Receive $5000 For Winning Gold

Ndoum Donates $32,000 to GOC Ahead of Rio Olympics

PPP Presidential candidate Dr.Paa Kwesi Ndoum donates $32,000 to GOC ahead of Rio 2016

 

President of Groupe Nduom who also doubles as the Presidential Candidate for the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has made donations worth $32,000 to the Ghana Olympics Committee ahead of the 2016 Olympuc Games.

The donation which is partitioned into two will take care of Team Ghana’s accommodation (Fully paid hotel bills) worth $22,000 and also an additional $10,000 for the welfare of the athletes and other officials.

Making the donation to the Ghana Olympics Committee, Dr. Nduom disclosed that He has already paid a sum of $22,000 to a hotel in Brazil which will accommodate all the 16 athletes and other officials ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and that his decision to help Team Ghana was influenced by his love and commitment to the development of sports.

As if that was not enough, an amount of $10,000 was also donated to the Ghana Olympics Committee for the welfare of the athletes and other officials to boost  their confidence.

He added that Ghana has got huge potentials of winning medals but most often than not our athletes fail to deliver at the big stage due to lack of motivation.

The 2016 Presidential Candidate for the Progressive Peoples Party urged the athletes to put up their best of performances and wished them well in their quest to make Ghana proud.

 

President of the Ghana Olympic Committee Professor Francis Doodo who was delighted upon receiving  the donation assured Ghanaians that the money will be put into good use and heaped praises on Dr.Nduom for his kind gesture.

 

He urged cooperate Ghana to come to their aid for the same course.

Ndoum Donates $32,000 to GOC Ahead of Rio Olympics

Exclusive : GOC Congress Called off

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) annual congress that was scheduled to take place today has been called off after some members served the committee with a court injunction.

GOC President, Professor Francis Dodoo chaired the conference on Ghana’s preparation to Rio 2016

With less than two weeks to the start of Rio Olympics some members taught in appropriate for a congress to be held now as it contradicts its own constitution that stipulate that congress should be after the Olympics and after the expired tenure of office of the current administration was extended till the end of 2016.

In an interview with the media the General Secretary of GOC, Richard Akpokavi said ” the GOC was served with the writ of summons and an interrogatory injunction by the GOC that prevented us from holding a congress, in the coming we will make a decision as to the way forward in the matter”.

Akpokavi also reiterated the GOC’s readiness for the upcoming Olympics with the leader of delegation already in Brazil putting things together for a smooth participation.

 

Ghana will be represented by 16 athletes at the games in Rio and will be looking forward to win the country it’s first medal at mega sporting event.

 

Exclusive : GOC Congress Called off

GOC to Hold Congress on July 23

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) will hold its annual congress at the Theodosia Okoh Stadium on Saturday, 23rd July, 2016.

 

A statement signed by Richard Akpokavie, Secretary General of the GOC, said the meeting will see to the discussion of issues relevant to the development of sports in the country.

 

Topical issues on the menu of the highest decision making body of the GOC are: Report of President of the GOC; Report of Auditors; Consideration of Audited Reports (2015) and Discharge of Executive Board; Appointment of Auditor, Rio 2016 Olympic Games, among others.

 

The session will be attended by delegates of the over 30 National Associations affiliated to the GOC..

GOC to Hold Congress on July 23

Dogboe Knockdown Kakembo To Retain Featherweight Title

Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe (14-0,9Ko) has retained his WBO African Featherweight Title against Uganda’s Edward ‘Shaka’ Kakembo (11-1,3Ko) after knocking him down in the sixth Round in bout staged at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday.

 

Prior to the bout touted as the’ Battle of the Rising Stars’, Kakembo promise to chain Dogboe who he considered as a ‘dog; which made the matchup a very interesting one to look forward.

 

Indeed the bout did leave up to expectation as the two boxers where heated up for the contest which in ended prematurely in the sixth round.

 

Kakembo in the early stages showed his aggressiveness despite the free flow of punches been thrown at him by the’ razzle dazzling’ Ghanaian boxer with various combination of his left and right hooks on the body of Kakembo.

 

Dogboe showed his determination with some blistering speed combined with technique and skill on Kakembo’s head on which he occasionally got through which made him develop a cut on his face.

 

Kakembo was fierce as ever, withstanding the Dogboe jabs and uppercut which were not getting through,Kakembo on various occasions complained to the referee of Dogboe hiring the back of his head which was ignored.

 

Dogboe was in cruise control as he executed a knowdown in the sixth round which saw Kakembo in wonder land and not being able to continue the fight.

 

Kakembo after the bout complained about the food he was being given prior to the fight which he said was full of vapor nonetheless he still insisted on a rematch against the Royal Storm

 

Dogboe Knockdown Kakembo To Retain Featherweight Title

Amir Khan To Compete For Pakistan At The Olympics

Amir Khan is plotting a dramatic Olympic comeback – for Pakistan – after professional boxers were controversially given permission to compete at Rio 2016.

Khan welcomed Wednesday’s ­decision by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) at its ­extraordinary congress in Lausanne, even though other British fighters responded furiously.

The 29-year-old, born and raised in Bolton, shot to fame by winning a silver medal for Great Britain in the lightweight division at the 2004 ­Olympics before turning professional a year later.

He said last year he would love to “turn it into a gold medal” if pro boxers were given the green light to go to Rio and he revealed on Wednesday that he wanted to do so while representing the country of his parents’ birth. Speaking at a promotional event in Karachi, the former light-welterweight world champion said: “It’s a decision which I welcome.

“It will help boxers, and if I am permitted as per rules and by my promoter then I would love to compete for Pakistan. I will be very happy if I can compete in Olympics. I want to serve Pakistan.”

Khan’s younger brother Haroon represented Pakistan at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where he won flyweight bronze.

But the AIBA denied him permission to fight for the country at London 2012 as he had represented Britain at junior level.

The British Amateur Boxing ­Association (BABA) is not expected to consider the selection of professional fighters in Rio.

 

Source : Telegraph

Amir Khan To Compete For Pakistan At The Olympics

Ghana’s Amoako to Meet Uganda’s Bogere on April 30th

Ghana’s Samuel “Bruno” Amoako (21-9, 15 KO’s) will test his strength against Ugandan Sheriff “The Lion” Bogere (27-1, 19 KO’s) at the Armory, Washington, DC, on April 30th in a lightweight contest.

The two African pugilists will be defending national pride when they meet on neutral territory. Amoako will enter the bout riding a five-fight losing streak against a slew of up and comers. The 31-year-old veteran hasn’t won a bout since a 2014 third round stoppage of Sulemah Adams in Accra, Ghana.

Bogere will be the decided favorite going in. Best known for his formidable power and pre-fight antics that includes entering the ring in a lion’s mask, the Ugandan recently signed on to Mayweather Promotions, who will be the promoter of record on this night.

Bogere has rebounded nicely since his 2013 decision loss to then-WBA lightweight champion Richar Abril and will look to continue his winning ways next weekend.

The card will feature a salivating double-header, with fast-rising Brit James DeGale defending his IBF super middleweight title against Rogelio Medina before Badou Jack defends his WBC super middleweight crown against dangerous former champ Lucian Bute in the main event.

 

SOURCE : Bukomboxing news

Ghana’s Amoako to Meet Uganda’s Bogere on April 30th

I Will Be A Competitor Not A Participant In Rio - Omar Wahid

Ghanaian flyweight boxer Abdul Omar Wahid after his qualification to the summer Olympic Games in Rio has reiterated his zeal to be a competitor and not a passive participant.

The 21 year old boxer has showed his boxing prowess on the local terrain and is already looking a very good prospect in winning a medal for the country despite a poor showing in the African Olympic qualifier in Cameroon recently.

In an interview with Sportscrusader.com, the young lad said “my focus now for the Olympics is to make a mark and not only to participate, I have to keep working hard to fulfill my dream of becoming a world champion for Ghana”.

Omar Wahid is the second athlete to qualify for Ghana in across all disciplines with the first being Track and Field athlete Sarfo Antwi.

I Will Be A Competitor Not A Participant In Rio - Omar Wahid

Audio : I Will Redeem Ghana"s Boxing Image in Rio - Omar Wahid

After receiving confirmation from the Amateur International Boxing Federation (AIBA),  Ghana’s sole qualifier so far in boxing to the Rio Olympics, Abdul Omar Wahid has vowed to make a mark in the mega sporting event when it takes center stage in August.

Omar initially made it to the semi finals at the African qualifiers in Yaounde, Cameroon, but failed to win his bout there, which thwarted his chance of qualifying.

In an interview with Sportscrusader.com the 21 year old promising star said ” it feels great to qualify for the Olympics, it is an honor for me personally and i am very focused to prove my worth and work hard so that all my dreams will come true.

In total, all nine boxers from Ghana failed to qualify during that tournament, but the team will once again get the chance to redeemed their boxing career when they participate in the AIBA World Olympic qualifying tournament from the June 7–19, 2016 in Azerbaijan.

Audio : I Will Redeem Ghana"s Boxing Image in Rio - Omar Wahid