Ghana has taken a decisive step toward strengthening its future presence on the international athletics stage with the official selection of two promising young athletes and two experienced coaches for the Africa Youth Athletes Development Project 2026, scheduled to take place from April 5 to April 12, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The initiative forms a core part of the country’s strategic preparations for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, emphasizing early exposure to elite training environments and high-performance coaching.
The selected athletes are Gladys Boateng of St. Louis Senior High School and Blessed Junior Owusu. Both have distinguished themselves through exceptional performances in recent national competitions, demonstrating the technical skill, discipline, and competitive spirit required to represent Ghana internationally.
They will be accompanied by two seasoned coaches, Mustapha Ibrahim of Effiduasi Senior High School and Francisca Azumah of Azantilow Senior High Technical School in Bolgatanga. Their role will be to provide technical guidance, mentorship, and tactical support throughout the intensive week-long camp.
A brief recognition ceremony was held today at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation in Accra to honor the selected individuals and officially commend their achievements. The event was graced by the Honorable Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams who personally congratulated the athletes and coaches, urging them to maintain focus, discipline, as they prepare to fly Ghana’s flag on the Global stage.
Also present were key stakeholders in Ghana’s sports development ecosystem, including the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr. Richard Akpokavie, Esq., and the President of Ghana Athletics, Mr. Bawah Fuseini. Both leaders expressed strong confidence in the team’s potential and reaffirmed their institutions’ unwavering commitment to athlete development through international exposure, capacity building, and structured talent pathways.
The Nairobi training camp is expected to offer participants access to world-class training facilities, exposure to advanced coaching methodologies, and the invaluable opportunity to train and compete alongside other elite young athletes from across Africa in one of the continent’s most renowned athletics hubs.
This selection affirms Ghana’s long-term vision of nurturing homegrown talent and enhancing the country’s competitiveness on the global stage, with a clear focus on delivering strong performances at the Youth Olympic Games and other major international competitions in the years ahead.
