Ashanti Region Super-Zonals cannot be glossed over

The Ashanti are noted for sports, an enduring legacy that has produced national greats such as Emmanuel Tuffour, Habiba Atta, Joshua Owusu, Dina Yankey, Mohammed Odoom, Reverend Osei Kofi, Helena Amoaka among others. 

Most importantly, the region is famous for its athletics prowess and that was the scene last week when the region hosted its annual super-zonals which saw senior high schools in the region including the Armed Forces Senior High Technical School, the Barekese SHS, T.I. AMASS, the Kumasi Wesley Girls SHS, the Opoku Ware SHS, the Prempeh College, the St Louis SHS and the Yaa Asantewaa SHS were also participants. 

Annual feature

The Ashanti Region super zonals has always been an exciting feature of the sporting calendar year in the country and this year's event, which hit up last Wednesday and climaxed on Friday, was no different. 

Youngsters took to the tartan tracks and exhibited reminisces of Usain Bolt, Noah Nyles and Sydney McLaughlin. Hayford Addai, a determined amputee athlete from the Konongo Odumase Senior High School defied the odds and stole the spotlight at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. 

In a breathtaking display of speed and resilience, Addai anchored his team to a dramatic victory in the 4x200 meters relay, securing their place in the finals.

Beyond super-zonals 

Beyond the excitement and thrill of the Super-Zonals lies a deeper concern about the state of athletics in Ghana. Despite the country's rich athletic heritage, Ghana has failed to make a significant impact on the international stage. 

The Africa Games held last year was supposed to be a turning point for Ghana's athletics programme, but it failed to materialise due to poor planning and organisation. 

Today, Ghana's sports sector is at a crossroads and the country risks becoming a moribund nation in terms of sports development. The Super-zonals competition provided a glimpse into the exciting possibilities that await Ghana's athletics programme. 

The event showcased the talents of young athletes from across the Ashanti Region and demonstrated the potential for athletics to drive economic growth and development in Ghana. 

However, to realise this potential, the government must prioritise investment in athletics, develop a clear development pathway for young athletes and leverage athletics as a means of generating revenue for the state.

One of the most significant challenges facing Ghana's athletics programme is the lack of investment in the sport. Athletics requires significant resources, including modern training facilities, experienced coaches and financial support for athletes. 

Investment in sports

However, Ghana's government has historically prioritised other sports such as football over athletics. 

This lack of investment has resulted in a decline in Ghana's athletic performance on the international stage. 

To address this challenge, the government must prioritise investment in athletics. This includes building modern training facilities, hiring experienced coaches and providing financial support for athletes. 

The government must develop a clear development pathway for young athletes, providing them with opportunities to progress from the grassroots level to the international stage. 

Another significant challenge facing Ghana's athletics programme is the lack of a clear development pathway for young athletes. 

The Super-Zonals competition provided a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents, but there are limited opportunities for them to progress beyond this level. 

Many talented young athletes are forced to abandon their athletic careers due to lack of support and resources.

To address this challenge, the government must work to develop a clear development pathway for young athletes. 

This includes providing opportunities for young athletes to train and compete at the national and international levels, as well as providing financial support and resources to help them develop their talents. 

In addition to these challenges, Ghana's athletics programme also faces significant competition from other sports such as football. 

Football is the most popular sport in Ghana and it receives the majority of the government's sports funding. This has resulted in a lack of resources and attention for athletics, making it difficult for the sport to develop and grow.

Challenges

To address this challenge, the government must work to promote athletics as a national pastime. 

This includes providing more resources and attention for the sport, as well as working to increase participation and interest in athletics among Ghanaians of all ages. 

Despite these challenges, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of athletics in Ghana. 

The Super-zonals competition demonstrated the potential for athletics to drive economic growth and development in Ghana and there are many talented young athletes emerging from across the country. 

One of the most significant opportunities for athletics in Ghana is the potential for the sport to generate revenue for the state. Athletics has the highest number of medals at the Olympic Games, with 48 or 52 medals available depending on the events included. 

This provides a significant opportunity for Ghana to win medals and generate revenue through sponsorship and corporate support. In addition to this opportunity, athletics also has the potential to create employment opportunities for young people in Ghana. 

Athletics has a profound impact on job creation in Ghana, urging various sectors such as coaching, event management and sports marketing. 

By investing in sports infrastructure and talent development, Ghana can further harness the potential of athletics to boost employment and national growth.