His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II declared the tournament duly launched after taking to the court himself to exhibit his tennis skills before dignitaries, traditional leaders, and invited guests gathered at the Palace.
Among the headline attractions announced for the tournament is a special exhibition match between former Black Stars captains Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan, fondly known to football fans as “Tornado” and “Baby Jet” respectively. The pair will face off at the Frank Ofori Center Court of the Accra Sports Stadium.
Ms. Gina Nettey, Chief Executive Officer of GeNet, the company behind the tournament’s proposal and packaging, explained that the maiden edition was designed to create opportunities for the youth and the wider tennis fraternity in Ghana.
Mr. Isaac Aboagye Duah, President of the Ghana Tennis Federation, welcomed the addition of the tournament to the national tennis calendar, expressing hope that players and officials would seize the opportunity to compete and strive for victory.
Speaking on the broader significance of the sport, Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, noted that tennis ranks among the most rewarding sports globally, behind only Formula One and golf, and expressed hope that the tournament would inspire more Ghanaians to take up the sport.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the King, Chief of Staff at the Ga Mantse Palace, Madam Julia Naa Yarley Adjei Amoah, called for girls to be encouraged to take up sporting activities, with particular emphasis on tennis. She further underscored the role of the sport in instilling discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking among the youth.
Tennis legend Mr. Peter Annan, popularly known as “Grandmaster” and a multiple tournament winner and coach in his own right, expressed delight that the sport had captured the attention of the Ga Mantse, and commended the organisers for their efforts in creating awareness of tennis among students.
Students from St. Mary’s Senior High School, Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, and Labone Senior High School were present at the launch, reflecting the tournament’s emphasis on youth engagement.
The Ga Mantse Tennis Open, which forms part of this year’s Homowo Festival celebrations, is designed to harness the power of sport to foster community unity, drive youth development, and promote sports tourism across the Ga State and Ghana as a whole.
