University of Ghana to host maiden Invitational Athletics Championship
The University of Ghana (UG) is set to host the inaugural Invitational Athletics Championship from May 17 to 21, 2026, in what organisers describe as a major step towards strengthening competitive sports at the tertiary level.
The competition, launched by the university’s Sports and Wellness Directorate on April 30, will take place at the UG Sports Stadium and is expected to bring together some of the country’s most promising student-athletes.
Eight institutions have confirmed participation in the maiden edition, including the Colleges of Education and Sports at the University of Ghana, the University of Education, Winneba, Tamale Technical University, Ho Technical University and the Accra College of Education.
Bridging the gap in tertiary sports
Speaking at the launch, the Director of the Sports and Wellness Directorate, Dr Austin Luguterah, said the championship was designed to address a longstanding gap in Ghana’s sports structure by creating a competitive platform for both technical and traditional universities.
“You'd always realize that there is a gap in sports in the country. There has never been a space where technical and traditional universities meet, so we thought of making the move and that's the idea,” he said.
“We are placing Ghana sports ahead to showcase talent and see the best of every student athlete. We also want this platform to be recognized by World Athletics because it feeds into the national federation. Apart from athletics, we are planning to roll in other activities,” he added.
Dr Luguterah expressed optimism that the competition would serve as a breeding ground for future national athletes, offering participants the opportunity to gain exposure and progress to higher levels.
Tourism boost through sports promotion
The championship is also expected to contribute to tourism promotion, with the Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTDC) partnering organisers to enhance visibility.
The Chief Executive Officer of GTDC, Prof Mensah, said the event presents an opportunity to showcase Ghana to a wider audience, particularly if it attracts international participation.
“This is also a tourism program involving sports. Particularly when there are international athletes participating, we need to showcase what we have and what the country represents,” he said.
“This is why GTDC is coming in to provide support. We have a double-decker iconic bus, and each team will be paraded through the streets of Accra to serve as a promotional tool for people to know about the event,” he added.
Platform for future stars
With growing emphasis on sports development and talent identification, the championship is expected to provide a vital pathway for student-athletes aiming to break into elite competition.
Organisers believe the initiative could evolve into a key fixture on Ghana’s athletics calendar, helping to strengthen the link between grassroots sports and national representation while promoting collaboration among tertiary institutions.
