The last batch of athletes and officials who represented Ghana in the 21st Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast Australia have arrived home.
The team that left the shores of Ghana in high confidence, with a target of winning at least 5 medals returned home with a bronze medal which was won by a boxer who was nearly dropped by the management.
On the administrative front, Ghana’s participation was rocked with a visa scandal that has resulted in the suspension of several high profile government appointees including the Director of the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo Mensah, the NSA Board Chairperson, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang and the Deputy Minister Pius Enam Hadzide.
The contingent was led by the Chef de Mission for the games, Sahnoon Mohammed and met on arrival by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Elvis Adjei-Baah.
Mohammed Sahnoon expressed disappointment over the team’s inability to achieve their target but believes the performance will only get better if the athletes get the needed support and funding from the state.
“The athletes have done their best and this is the result. If it falls below the standard expected by Ghanaians then all I can say is we need to push hard. We are going to work hard and the next Commonwealth Games we are going to see better results. It’s about being focusing on it and making the necessary resources available for the various disciplines. I’m personally disappointed with our performances but I live the athletes did their best. We came home with a medal and certificates”, he remarked.
Ghana finished the games 39th with just one medal alongside Cook Islands, Norfolk Island, Seychelles and the Solomon Islands.
Boxing gave Team Ghana the only medal when Jessie Lartey picked bronze in the 64kg light welterweight division despite his controversial defeat to Canada’s Thomas Blumenfeld.”
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