African Games 2023: Ghana win a record 69 medals on home soil

Team Ghana finished 6th on the medal table with a record 68 medals at the just-ended 13th African Games held in Accra and Cape Coast.

The Ghanaian contingent raked in 19 gold, 29 silver, and 21 bronze medals across 25 competitions at the competition.

The medal tally is the highest in the country’s history since 1973 in Nigeria where Ghana won 27 medals overall, 7 gold, seven silver 13 bronze.

“To each and every member of the Ghanaian team, I commend you for your dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Your excellent achievements have not only brought glory to our nation but have also inspired a new generation of sportspersons across our beloved country, You have showcased the best of Ghana to the world.”- President Akufo-Addo said at a colourful closing ceremony.

Armwrestling produced the highest medal haul. The Team smashed 41 medals- eight gold, 19 silver and 14 bronze, only Egypt(14) had more gold medals.

Boxing came second with eight medals- four gold, one silver, and two bronze.  2020 Olympic bronze medalist Samuel Takyi,  Commonwealth silver medalist Joseph Commey,  Amadu Mohammed, and Mohammed Aryeetey all secured gold in their respective weight divisions.

Meanwhile, Abubakar Kamoko, son of Braimah Kamoko(Bukom Banku), settled for silver after losing the Cruiserweight final to Algeria’s Ousama Kanouni.  Theophilus Allotey and Janet Acquah won the two bronze medals.

In Athletics, Ghana won 6 medals- three gold, two silver and one bronze in 6 different disciplines. Joseph Paul Amoah won gold in the men’s 200m with a time of 20,70s.

He also anchored the 4x100m relay team to secure a silver medal in a close contest against Nigeria’s quartet who took the gold medal in 38.41s.  The team missed out on the gold medal by just 0.02 seconds after running 38.43s.

The women’s relay team also won bronze after running 44.21s in the 4x100m relay final.

Meanwhile, the long-distance runner made a big statement in the competition as he won Ghana’s first medal in the half marathon (silver) at the African Games.

The 24-year-old finished the race after 1 hour,5 minutes,13 seconds, just 9 seconds behind Samson Amare of Eritrea(1:05:04s), which makes it a national record.

Amonsah also set a national record in the men’s 10,00m final with a time of 29.50.99s despite finishing 5th.

After setting national records in 10,000m and Half Marathon at the African games, Amponsah now holds 7 major records- 3000m(8.02.67) – Short Track, 5000m (13.40.16),10000m (29:50:99), Half-Marathon (1:03:15).

He is also a record holder for 10km(road), 15km(road) and 10 miles (road).

“Over the years, when you talk about long-distance events, people think about, East Africa so that thing really inspired me- that someone can also come from here (West Africa) to make an impact in that field”.

“I feel inspired and I’m moved anytime I see that’s the East Africans are dominating the long-distance events it becomes a burden to me that I have to work hard to change the story.’- he told Asaasesports.

In the field events, Evans Cadman Yamoah and Rose Yeboah stole the show, The duo grabbed the gold medals in both men’s and women’s high jump finals. Evans Cadman became the Ghanaian to win gold in the men’s high jump at the African Games.

The former University of Ghana student, roared on by his former colleagues, scaled a height of 2.23m to claim the gold ahead of Morocco’s Hammouda Saad and South Africa’s Benjamin Links Mpho. The height is a new Personal Best for the University of Central Missouri final-year student.

Rose, 22 successfully defended her African Games champion title with a jump of 1.90m.

In Hockey, the women’s team beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties to win gold, while the men’s team settled for silver after losing 3-1 to Egypt.

The Basketball 3×3 team secured a silver medal after an 11-16 defeat to Algeria in the men’s final. The Volleyball team also won bronze after beating Cameroon 3-2 in the bronze medal match.

Taekwondo won 3 medals- 2 silver, 1 bronze,the medalists are: Kelvin Amuzu, Erica Tuagbor and Gerald Sarfo.

In football, Ghana won gold in both men’s and women’s final. The Black Satellites beat Uganda one nil in the final at a fully parked Accra Sports Stadium, a night after the Black Princesses came from a goal down to beat Nigeria 2-1 in Cape Coast.

Weightlifter, Winnifred Ntumi, 21 delivered Ghana’s first three medals- 1 gold and 2 silver medals in the competition.

Swimmer Abeku Jackson made history by ending Ghana’s long-standing medal drought, securing silver in the Men’s 50m Butterfly final with 24.23s and a bronze medal in the Men’s 100m Butterfly final clocking in at 53.80s.

The African Games 2023 staged in Ghana is a huge step toward competing at the highest level and using sports as a tool for development.

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