President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC Ghana), Samson Deen, has personally sponsored Team Ghana’s Para Powerlifting squad for the 2026 International Para Powerlifting Competition in Russia, affirming the Committee’s commitment to preparing the athletes for global podium contention ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
The competition, scheduled for 8–9 August 2026, will see Ghana field a five-member delegation comprising athletes Francis Kwaku, Nfodzo Patrick and Obeng Samuel, alongside coaches Toulassi Frank and Oheneadu George.
The sponsorship forms part of NPC Ghana’s “Target the Podium” initiative, a structured programme designed to move the country beyond mere participation at major para-sport competitions toward the development of athletes capable of genuinely challenging for Paralympic medals.
NPC say the Russia assignment will offer the athletes valuable exposure to elite international competition, sharpening their technical execution and competitive readiness against some of the world’s strongest para powerlifters.
For a squad building toward the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, such high-level outings are considered indispensable to closing the gap between domestic performance and global podium standards.
Beyond the Russia trip, “Target the Podium” reflects a broader shift in NPC Ghana’s strategy, one that pairs sustained international exposure with focused coaching and preparation cycles, rather than one-off competition appearances.
The Committee has signalled that this approach will underpin its build-up across multiple para-sport disciplines in the lead-up to LA28.