The country’s only international rower left Accra last night to Algeria where he will compete in the continental tournament.
John Boafo has reiterated the call for government and corporate support for rowing and canoeing, urging that effort be made to tap the experience of foreigners in Ghana as well as Ghanaians living in foreign lands who have the sport at heart.
“We need to start with the expatriate community, Ghanaians abroad can also come with the knowledge, technique and experience, they can even help with equipment,” Boafo told Allsports.com.gh exclusively
“Unfortunately in Ghana we focus only on football, to an extent boxing and athletics also get a little bit but the rest are completely ignored,” he lamented.
“We have seas, rivers, we have lakes and many people living around these water bodies are all good fishermen with the basic water skills needed to train a lot of people to become potential world champions,” he added
“I think it’s important that the we make use of the experience of foreign based Ghanaians or those who have returned home because a lot of them understand the sport and can help make it popular in Ghana,” John Boafo urged.
Boafo who became the first Ghanaian to participate in the World Rowing Championships in Australia last year, left Accra last night in the company of Ghana Rowing and Canoeing Association (GRCA) Vice President, Kamal Sulley to Algeria where he will take part in the Africa Rowing Championship scheduled for 10th to 18th October.
The duo have the full backing of GRCA President, Francis Decland who took office in June on a 4-year mandate as new chief of the sport in this country.
A former Promotions Chairman of Ghana Boxing Authority and renowned fight promoter, Mr. Decland has vowed to help develop and promote rowing and canoeing to bring more medals to Ghana from international competitions than any other sport.
“We are determined to help rowing and canoeing rise, people perceive it to be an elite sport but we want Ghanaians to know that we have a lot of talents who are so good at it,” Mr. Decland said after leading a delegation of executives to visit the athletes’ training base at Ada in August.
“All we have to do is give them good training and I can assure you we will win a lot of medals at the next All Africa Games and Olympic Games,” the Ghana rowing and canoeing boss pledged.