The Accra Open Championship, held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Legon Sports Stadium, has given Ghana Athletics a glimpse of hope for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. The event saw local athletes putting up impressive performances, with Sarfo Ansah winning the 100m final with a time of 10.32 seconds and Edwin Gadayi, the SWAG Athlete of the Year, claiming the 200m title with a time of 20.63 seconds.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Athletics, Mr. Ahmed Bafffoe, these performances have reinforced his hopes for a strong Ghanaian representation at the World Championships. “We hope that we get more individual athletes to qualify for the individual races. The 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and even long distance events are what we’re hoping for,” he said.
Mr. Bafffoe expressed optimism about the performances of Ghanaian athletes based abroad, noting that they would improve upon their previous performances. He also highlighted the potential of some promising athletes, including Saminu, Azamati, and Botsio, who have shown strong performances in the past.
However, the CEO expressed concern about the challenge facing athletes based in the US, who would have a long layoff between the outdoor competition season in May and the World Championships in September. To address this issue, Mr. Bafffoe suggested putting these athletes into training camps and competitions in Europe to fine-tune their performances.
“By the time it hits September, they’ll be at the top level and then perform well,” he said. “And trust me, if we continue that way, we’ll be able to man the podium come the World Championship in Tokyo.”
The 2025 World Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place from September 13 to 21, 2025, at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, promises to be an exciting event, and Ghana’s athletes are expected to put up a strong fight. With careful planning and preparation, Ghana could make a significant impact on the global athletics stage.
