Ghana makes 19 medals, places 12th as All Africa Games ends
Ghana made a total of 19 medals at the close of the 10th All Africa Games (AAG) in Maputo, Mozambique, out of the 16 sporting disciplines.
Though Ghana had 19 medals, only 17 were captured on the medal table at the close of the Games, thereby placing Ghana at the 12th position, two steps ahead of the 9th Edition in Algeria, where the nation placed 14 with 25 medals.
This was due to the fact, Ghana improved in her gold medal ratings after the combined effort of Ajara Mohamed, Margaret Simpson and the national under-23 team, the Black Meteors gave Ghana four gold medals as against three in the last edition.
Ghana, could have placed better on the table event with 17 medals if the Black Princesses had won the gold medal in the finals of the Women Football competition since gold medals carry much points as compared to others medals.
The failure of the female football team denied Ghana a significant point on the table.
Mohamed picked two gold medals in the 1500 and 400 metre race, with Hepthalete Margaret Simpson, also winning a gold medal in her event, whilst the National Under-23 team, the Black Meteors also emerged the proud winners of gold in the football category after beating South Africa on penalties 4-2.
A compilation of the medal table made by the Local Organising Committee indicated that, Ghana had six silver medals from the Games, which were provided by the Male and Female 4×100 Relay teams, the national under-19 team and Felix Acheampong in the Paralympics sport.
Sprinter Vida Anim and Ignatius Gaisah also won silver medals in the Women’s 200 meters and Men Long Jump respectively, whilst Timothy Abeyie missed an opportunity to win a medal in the Men’s 200 metres after suffering from food poisoning few minutes before the start of the race and had to quit.
A total of seven bronze medals were won, with the Paralympics team and the National Amateur Boxing team, the Black Bombers winning two each.
Patrick Obeng and Anita Fodjour also won bronze medals in the Men and Women 1500 metre race respectively, with David Bawa and Maxwell Amponsah picking bronze honours in the Light Heavy and Heavyweight divisions of boxing.
Solomon Nyarko and Daniel Sam combined to win bronze in the Men’s Double in Badminton, while the Beach Volley team also fetched bronze medal as well as Fatawu Hassan in Tae-Kwando.
Though Ghana was occupying the 12th position with 17 medals as at the close of the event, information gathered by the Ghana News Agency Sports and confirmed by Erasmus Adorkor Chef D’ Mission of Ghana’s contingent indicated that, both male and female hockey teams won bronze medals in the Hockey competition, which was played in Zimbabwe due to the lack of facilities by the host nation.
In view of this development, Ghana may move slightly upward on the medal table at least by a step, when the last two bronze medals are captured on the medal table.
Ghana participated in Athletics, Boxing, Badminton, Cycling, Chess, Beach Volleyball, Handball, Football, Karate-Do, Tae Kwando, Tennis, Table Tennis, Swimming, Netball, Judo and Hockey.
The All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, ended on Sunday, September 18, with a unique and colourful ceremony characterised by excellent cultural exhibition by the host nation.
Backed by ecstatic people of a country, which has never organised any major sporting event, it was a moment of success for the 22 million-populated nation, as they successfully hosted the entire continent.
South Africa won the 10th Edition of the AAG with 168 medals followed by Egypt who had 68 medals, whilst Nigeria garnered 98 to place third due to superior gold medal difference of one between the two countries.
Source: GNA