The National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC-Ghana), together with the French Embassy in Ghana, organized a national para-powerlifting competition involving over 50 para-powerlifters (athletes) from across five regions of Ghana.
The event, which started at 3:00 PM at the African Paralympic Committee Secretariat, North Ridge, Accra, near the Alisa Hotel, was part of NPC-Ghana’s activities marking last year’s International Day for persons with disabilities, under the theme, ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with, and by persons with disabilities.
Significantly, the event also served as a national ranking for the athletes, identification, and selection of potential athletes in preparation for mandatory qualification events for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
The mandatory qualifiers included the 14th Fazza Dubai 2024 World Cup, Dubai, UAE, in February; Sharm El Sheik 2024 World Cup, Egypt, in March; Pattaya 2024 World Cup, Pattaya, Thailand, in April; Tbilisi 2024 World Cup, Tbilisi, Georgia, in April; Cancun 2024 World Cup, Cancun, Mexico, in May; and Manchester 2024 World Cup, Manchester, UK, in June.
Meanwhile, the NPC Board also seized the opportunity to distribute various para-sports equipment and logistics to some federations to facilitate the development and promotion of their respective sports in the country.
The equipment, which was donated by Korea NPC and Japan for the hosting of the 1st African Para Games, included multi-purpose para-sport wheelchairs, clutches, footballs, tennis balls, sitting volleyballs and posts, footballs for the visually impaired, eyeshades for blind sports, sportswear, among others.
Addressing the gathering at the event, the president of the African Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen, expressed his delight and commended the NPC and the French Embassy for their contributions towards para sports in the country.
Deen said, “Today, with the support of the French Embassy, we have been able to bring together 30 athletes (para powerlifters) from across five regions. We also have 20 coaches and technical officers recently trained by the NPC-Ghana to oversee the development of the sport and officiate the event.”
As part of efforts to offer the opportunity for every person with an impairment, irrespective of gender, to participate in para-sports.
Deen also used the opportunity to appeal to corporate Ghana and foreign missions such as NGOs, CSOs, and philanthropists to support the national Paralympic teams to help them participate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
As a representative for the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Evans Opoku Bobie, also congratulated the NPC and the French Embassy for their efforts towards the development and promotion of para-sports in the country.
Bobie admonished the NPC-Ghana to expand the development and participation of para-sports to other regions where the sport is relatively uncommon.
The 2023 National Para Powerlifting Competition, solely sponsored by the French Embassy, was also used to launch women’s Amputee Football in Ghana.
The event was graced by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustafa Ussif, H.E. Jules-Armand Aniambossou, the French Ambassador to Ghana, the Director General of the NSA, Executive Board Members of the NPC-Ghana, representatives of various Para Sports Federations, and supporters, among others.
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