The President of the African Paralympic Committee (AfPC) and the Ghana Paralympic Committee, Mr. Samson Deen, made a strategic courtesy call on Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the new Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), as part of a high-level engagement intended to promote national cooperation for disability sports.
Ahead of Ghana hosting two significant parasport events in November 2025—the AfPC Elective Congress and the inaugural Open Para Sports and Classification Festival—the meeting, which took place at the NSA headquarters, laid the stage for a new era of cooperation.
Mr. Deen took advantage of the opportunity to emphasize how important Ghana is to the advancement of parasports in Africa. He emphasized the urgent need for athlete development, inclusive facilities, and continental access to athlete categorization.
“Africa’s para athletes are talented but structurally underserved. With Ghana taking the lead in hosting a continental classification festival, we’re not just creating opportunities — we’re correcting historic inequalities,” he stated.
It is anticipated that the forthcoming festival would revolutionize the sport by offering participants international classification, which is a need for participating in international Paralympic competitions. According to Mr. Deen, diplomatic missions such as the Spanish Embassy have enthusiastically supported the engagement of international classifiers and delegations from other nations.
In addition, Mr. Deen offered his personal perspectives on how parasports have changed in Ghana since he became involved in 2016, pointing out the move away from a system that was dominated by personalities and toward one that values equity and community empowerment.
“This movement is no longer about individuals. It’s about systems that work, structures that uplift everyone.”
He made a request to the NSA for technical staff to assist with the festival’s logistics as well as access to important locations including the University of Ghana Stadium and the Borteyman Complex. NSA Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah expressed sympathy by promising his office’s complete assistance.
“This is a national priority. We’re committed to seeing para sports thrive and will provide the facilities and manpower needed to ensure success.”
The collaboration between AfPC and the NSA is being hailed as a bold step in Ghana’s sports diplomacy and a significant milestone in empowering athletes with disabilities across Africa.
