Ghana’s Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, has highlighted the importance of the Borteyman sports complex, which hosted the recently held Africa Aquatics Zone 2 championship.
Ghana was selected to host the event after Nigeria withdrew from its role as the original host.
The competition saw Ghana competing favourably in the pool against the other sides that participated in the championship.
Ghana Competed in a total of 28 events. 14 in the senior category and 14 in the junior category and claimed medals in 10 of the senior events and eight of the junior contests.
Ghana’s Olympian Harry Stacey, who represented Ghana at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games took home three gold medals in the men’s 100m breaststroke, 200m freestyle, and 50m breaststroke, along with a bronze in the 50m backstroke.
Fellow Olympian Joselle Mensah also grabbed gold in the women’s 100m freestyle and silver in the 200m freestyle. Abeiku Jackson added to Ghana’s tally with gold in the men’s 100m butterfly.
Among the female swimmers, Nubia Adjei was another standout, collecting three medals: silver in both the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly, and bronze in the 100m freestyle.
Ghana’s mixed 4x100m freestyle relay team also struck gold, finishing with a time of 3:46.54, ahead of Nigeria and Senegal.
Speaking at the 3-day event where Ghana’s swimming team delivered an impressive performance securing 21 medals, Mustapha Ussif indicated he has tasked the federation to make good use of the Borteyman facilities.
“I have engaged the Ghana Swimming Aquatic Federation to use this facility to train younger athletes so that we can prepare them for future Olympics and competitions. The dividends from this investment made by the government, we might not see it this year, and we might not see them next year, but in the next five to ten years we will see a lot of athletes coming from swimming doing so well either the continental level or the global level.“
“I have no doubt at all that once the structures that we have put in place by the Sports Ministry, the National Sports Authority, and the Aquatic Federation once we stick to the implementation plan we will get more athletes to compete and win medals for our country Ghana.” Mustapha Ussif added.
The Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif used the occasion to task the Ghana swimming federation to take advantage of the Borteyman complex and train budding talents to compete for laurels for Ghana at future championships.
“I have tasked the Ghana Aquatic Federation to work with swimming clubs like that of Legon, the army, and other clubs not only in Accra, but Ashanti region, Northern region, and others in the country.
After our national games, which is about to take effect, we will get more athletes from clubs to come and compete for national medals and develop more talents to compete for the country”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Monica Bukari
