Ghana Bowls Federation introduces sport to Police Service ahead of Commonwealth Games push
The Ghana Bowls Federation has intensified efforts to expand and institutionalise the sport within Ghana’s security services, formally introducing bowls to the Ghana Police Service as part of a broader strategy to prepare athletes for international competition, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The introduction and inauguration ceremony was held at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra and featured a practical demonstration of the sport led by the President of the Ghana Bowls Federation, Charles Amofa, alongside para-athletes.
Members of the Police Service, including athletes and coaches, took part in the exercise, which formed part of a wider sports exhibition involving several national federations.
Speaking in an interview at the event, Mr Amofa said the programme marked the first time bowls was being officially introduced to the Ghana Police Service, describing it as a significant step in the federation’s development agenda.
“We were invited to be part of this sports exhibition day. As you can see, we have other federations also exhibiting their silverware and what they have in terms of skills and all that. So for us as a federation, Ghana Bowls, this is our first time of introducing the sport to the Ghana Police Service,” he said.
He explained that the Police Service becomes the fourth security institution to embrace bowls, following earlier engagements with the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Prisons Service and the Ghana Armed Forces.
“We’ve done that for the Ghana National Fire Service. We’ve done that for the Prison Service and the Ghana Armed Forces. So the Ghana Police Service is our fourth security service that we are trying to introduce the Bowls Federation to,” Mr Amofa stated.
He indicated that the demonstration would be followed by structured training sessions for interested police personnel, with a long-term objective of organising national security games in bowls.
“The ultimate goal is to have a national security games, you know, in preparation towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games, if we are lucky to be given a slot to go to the Commonwealth Games after,” he said.
Mr Amofa disclosed that the federation has also written to other security agencies, including the Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Division, to extend the programme nationwide.
“We’ve already written to the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Customs Service and we are yet to get the feedback from them, but we hope we’ll be getting a positive feedback, just like the others have done,” he noted.
He described bowls as a discipline that aligns well with the professional demands of security work, emphasising its focus on mental strength and precision.
“Bowls is a discipline game. It’s a game of precision. It’s a game that prepares your mind towards any target that you really want to achieve,” he said.
According to him, the federation is deliberately focusing on the security services before expanding aggressively into civilian participation, although para-bowls activities are already underway.
“What we are doing for now is to concentrate on only the security services. Once we get it right with the security services, we’ll move on to the civilian clubs as well. But we already have the para club which trains every Mondays and Tuesdays at the Accra Sports Stadium,” Mr Amofa added.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Ghana Bowls Federation President said the sport would remain visible and active as part of its growth strategy.
“We are not resting on our oars. What we’re doing is to make sure we are active, we are visible. Wherever there is any serious sporting event, we’ll be present to showcase what we have as a federation,” he said.
