National Paralympic Committee of Ghana utilises support from 2022 NPCDP Grant with series of events

The National Paralympic Committee of Ghana organized series of events with support from the 2022 NPCDP Grant from the IPC between 1st August 2022 to 31st July 2023. In all three events were organized including two (2) para sports festivals for para-athletics and para powerlifting and wheelchair tennis and a systematic para sports training program.

The first Para Sports Talent Identification festival was held on the 5th and 6th of December 2022 at Kumasi Sports Stadium in the Ashanti region involving Para-Athletics and Para Powerlifting. The second para sports talent Identification festival took place on the 25th and 26th of September 2022 at Cape Coast Stadium involving Wheelchair tennis. The last event- the systematic Para Sports Training Program was organized three days a week from January to July 2023 for three sport disciplines; para wheelchair tennis, para powerlifting, and para-athletics at Accra Sports Stadium, the Wheelchair Tennis event took place at the Tennis Court, the para powerlifting event took place at the stadium’s gym, and the para-athletics event at the Stadium.

The two Para Sports talent identification festivals aimed at unearthing and scouting new athletes across the country to boost existing national teams. The festivals were organized in two events (phases), the first event had competitions from para-athletics and para powerlifting whilst the second event was Wheelchair Tennis completions. In all, over one hundred and forty people grazed and participated in the two events. A total of ninety-two (92) athletes (60 male and 32 females), eighteen coaches (13 male and 5 females), fifteen (15) NPC staff, and fifteen volunteers took part in the events. The events were very successful, in all, thirty (30) new athletes were identified across the country (20 males and 10 females).

The Ashanti regional director of National Sports Authority (NSA) grazed and chaired the closing ceremony. In the closing remarks of the NPC-Ghana President, Mr. Samson Deen he thanked the IPC for supporting by timely releasing the 2022 NPCDP grant to the NPC. He encourages the newly identified and old athletes to remain focused and resolute in the pursuit of their dreams and aspirations. He pledges that the NPC will organize more of such events to harness and develop the talents of Ghanaian athletes and coaches. He called on government and private businesses and individuals to support and partner with the NPC to ensure the realization of the goal of the NPC and its athletes.

The Systematic Para Sports Training Program brought together thirty (30) participants including eighteen (18) athletes, six (6) coaches and four (4) volunteers at the three venues. The aim of the training program for coaches included enhancing coaching knowledge and Skills, improve communication and leadership, foster athlete development, understand performance analysis and encourage ethical coaching practice. For athletes, the training aimed at enhancing physical development, skill acquisition and mastery, mental toughness and focus, injury Prevention and recovery, teamwork and collaboration, goal setting and motivation of athletes. Participants were presented with certificate of participation.

NPC Media Team