by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF-Africa Press Officer

At a recent meeting held at the Ghana Ministry of Youth and Sports in Accra, Isaac Asiamah, the Minister of Youth and Sport, told the delegation from the African Table Tennis Federation, led by Khaled El-Salhy, the President, that they seed to unearth players who will represent Ghana when the country hosts the 2023 African Games.

“We are grateful to ITTF and ATTF for choosing Ghana as host of these important competitions and for us we are excited that this is in line with our ideals of growing all sports from grassroots levels. We have been working hard to revive our school sports because we know we have the potential to be among the best in sports. I am also using this opportunity to charge the Ghana Table Tennis Association to focus on schools across the country to be able to discover new talents that will make our country proud at the 2023 African Games which we are hosting.” Isaac Asiamah.

Certainly Isaac Asiamah was in a most positive mood and is most certainly looking forward to the events in early April.

“We are ready to host the world and Africa in April and all arrangement in terms of security, accommodation and transportation will be addressed. We are also grateful to ITTF for deciding to provide table tennis equipment which has already been shipped to Ghana for the tournaments. For us, we want to use sport as a tool for job creation and that is why we want to develop others sports and not only focus on football. I must also let you know that table tennis is one of our priority sports that we intend to use to create jobs for our youths. I must also commend the leadership role showed by Mawuko Afadzinu, we assure him our support.” Isaac Asiamah

In the 1970s with the likes of Emmanuel Quaye, Ethel Jacks and Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah competing, Ghana dominated the continent, it is to those days that Mawuko Afadzinu aspires to return.

“We know the potential of Ghana in table tennis and I am sure that with the staging of this kind of tournament, the country has the chance to unearth talents that will bring back the glory of Ghana. ITTF and ATTF will continue to support Ghana and with the staging of the tournament, Ghana will be the focus and this will surely project the image of Africa and Ghana.” Mawuko Afadzinu

Equally, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, Vice President of the Western African region, was in a similar mood, as was Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, now the Technical Adviser to the Ghanaian Ministry.

“I remember that we used to dominate table tennis from 1970 to 1973 when Nigeria hosted the African Games in Lagos; since then we have been struggling and I believe with the hosting of these kinds of junior events, it will help us to discover new players toward the 2023 African Games.” Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah

Additionally, present at the meeting in Accra was Perry Okudzeto, the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport, Frank Quist, Chief Director, Emmanuel Oteng, Chief Accountant, Ahmed Osumanu Halid, Communications Consultant as well as Gifty Eghan from Public Relations.