Ghana’s para star Addai eyes Commonwealth Games boost in Rabat

Ghana’s fast-rising para-athlete Hayford Addai has departed Accra for the 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Rabat, Morocco, as he continues to build momentum towards the Commonwealth Games.

The meet, scheduled from April 22 to 27, will be Addai’s second international outing — and comes on the back of a breakthrough performance at the WPA Dubai Grand Prix, where he surged to gold and announced himself on the global stage.

Now, the focus shifts to consistency and progression.

Travelling with coach Ibrahim Aminu Suleman, Addai is targeting an improvement on his personal best of 11.09 seconds in the T47 100 metres — a benchmark that could firmly place him among the world’s leading para sprinters.

The Rabat event is being treated as a critical test ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, offering high-level competition and a platform to refine race execution under pressure.

For Ghana, Addai’s rise represents more than individual success. It signals the country’s growing footprint in para athletics and a strengthening pipeline of elite talent capable of competing on the world stage.

The National Paralympic Committee Ghana has backed the trip as a key part of its high-performance strategy, highlighting the importance of sustained international exposure.

“This championship serves as a crucial preparatory platform ahead of the Commonwealth Games. We are confident that Hayford will continue to make the nation proud,” the Committee said in a statement.

The NPC also acknowledged the role of NPC Korea, whose support has been instrumental in enabling Addai’s participation in international competitions.