President John Mahama has honoured Martha Bissah - winner of the gold medal in the 800m race at the just ended Youth Olympics Championship in China.

Martha won for Ghana its very first Olympic Gold with a time of 2:04:90, a new national junior record. President Mahama said the feat serves as an encouragement to the youth and athletics in the West African country.

“I will ask the Olympic Committee to pay special attention to you and give you every opportunity to develop this talent for the interest of the nation,” President Mahama told the 17-year-old at the seat of government – the Flagstaff House.

“We should create a system where we are able to catch these talents very young and groom them and train them to become some of the super athletes that we wish they become in the future.”

On her part, Bissah said she feels “very proud, the game was very tough, but I was able to conquer them. I will say glory be to God and all Ghana Athletics Association members.”