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Deborah Fatima Conteh of the Lunsar Cycling Team was first in the prestigious Accra Criterium on Saturday 16 April 2022. It is the largest criterium city of Accra.
Ms Conteh made an amazing triumph in the women’s race beating a 20-rider international field in a sprint finish. She watched the riders in the pack, fought hard to stay in the bunch and trusted her speed in the end.
Conteh thanked her team and sponsors after the race.
“I would like to say how delighted I am to have won this amazing race. I am thankful especially to the wonderful Africa World Airlines, who sponsored the flights for this trip – without which we would not have been able to attend.”
The result was Sierra Leone’s first international cycling victory in over a decade, and secured Conteh’s place as the top female rider in the county, with a strong claim to Commonwealth Games selection later this year.
Conteh recently took victory in the women’s race at the Science In Sports Tour De Lunsar, claiming the prestigious blue jersey for the best overall female rider.
The ticket to Accra was one of her prizes for this win.
Three male riders from Lunsar Cycling Team, Ibrahim S Jalloh, Ibrahim Kamara and Abu Sheik Sesay took part.
Jalloh and Kamara were ruled out of contention by bad luck and crashes, while Sesay was able to finish in the leading pack.
Overall 2022 Tour de Lunsar champion Ibrahim Jalloh said “I can say that it wasn’t for me today. With the crash and the puncture. I was able to watch and support my teammates from the sidelines. I look forward to coming back next year and competing for the win!”
Race organiser Mr Richard Agu told the media “RideAfrique Ltd is happy to have welcomed Sierra Leone cyclists to our city. I congratulate Ms Conteh on her impressive victory and look forward to welcoming the Lunsar Cycling Team again in Accra before too long.
The Lunsar Cycling Team thanked the Ride Afrique organiser Mr Richard Agu and Mr Simon Cobbina who first created the connection between the Ghanaian cycling scene and Lunsar Cycling, and Ms Kelly who hosted the riders at her AirBNB in Accra.
EXCLUSIVE:“DERBYWHEEL” INITIATIVE RECEIVES NATIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY ENDORSEMENT
The Director General of the National Sports Authority, Prof. Peter Twumasi has commended the Ghana Cycling Federation for the Derby Wheel Cycling initiative soon to be introduced into the country.
The endorsement of the initiative by the NSA Boss is a positive respite for the Federation and
Pro Keiren Tour DerbyWheel, the Korean investors, who are the major stakeholders
in this exercise.
Managing Director of Pro Keiren Africa, Shaaban Mohammed explained
the importance of the Kieren Cycling Sport in Ghana of which a velodrome is to
be built to that effect. It is projected that the velodrome,
which will serve that sporting purpose will be posited in the capital of Accra.
Pro Keiren DerbyWheel is a global Pro Keiren Tour where world top cyclists participate and the
audience places bet legally.
Globalized Keiren Cycle racing has been successfully operating for numerous decades in
Korea and Japan. Selected cyclists tour the velodromes around the world to compete in
DerbyWheel Keiren Cycle racing.
With the endorsement of the National Authorities in the DerbyWheel initiative, Ghana
will be benefitting from the erecting of a first class velodrome which will begin the process
of competition. Other members who called on the Director General includes, Mr. Godwin
Vasco Nukunu ,Project Manager, Dennis Kweku Moore, Cycling correspondent and
Hubert Leo Mensah, a representative from the Technical Department of the National
Sports Authority.Today’s meeting marks a new beginning in the Keiren
DerbyWheel Sport and offers a wider opportunity for cyclists in the country as potential
Keiren Derby Wheel riders would be transformed into professionals on salaries.
AFRICA ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP/PARA CHAMPIONSHIPS ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY
The Ghana Cycling Federation’s intentions of hosting next year’s Africa Road
Championships/Para Championships has received a major boost from the National
Sports Authority. The hierarchy of the Federation conferred with the Director General of the
National Sports Authority, Prof. Peter Twumasi who endorsed the idea and paving way for
Ghana to begin preparations ahead of the Africa Cycling fiesta next year February.
The positive button pressed by the NSA Boss, is an indication of the Government’s role
in developing the least finance sports through such collaboration with the Cycling Federation.
The NSA capo commended the Cycling Federation hierarchy for such a great job done .
The Technical Director of the Ghana Cycling Federation Shaaban Mohammed took turns to
explain the benefits the country stands to gain from organizing this event.
Shaaban mentioned that by organizing this event, majority of Para cyclists would get the
chance of being classified, an exercise which would have been very expensive to undertake by
the Federation. Shaaban again mentioned that the organization of the twin events are all
qualification standards for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“By the endorsement of the National Sports Authority, Ghana has secured six bicycles from the Union Cycling International -UCI to the tune of $42,000. Ghana has again secured special transponders from the Gladiators Cycling club for this exercise shedding off huge costs that would hitherto have been borne by the state.
With the Protocol of agreement being signed at later date, Ghana will be inviting over 50 African
countries into its fold to come fight for glory on the Road.
The Ghana Cycling Federation has ,in recent times been very active in its operations and is
bent on raising the bar into the coming fortunes on the international scene.
More updates on this very development will be made known in due course.
THE GHANA CYCLING FEDERATION IN FOCUS: ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022
It is now officially confirmed that Ghana will host the Africa Road Paracycling
Championships in Accra from the 8th to 17th February, 2023 at Ablekuma Ollebu.
The Federation over the years has struggled financially to maintain its activities
(especially local activities).I will chronicle just a few successes chalked by the
Federation in 2022 before landing on the subject above:2022:Last year was an
astonishing moment for the Ghana Cycling Federation notwithstanding
the premordial financial bottlenecks it found itself.
The hierarchy of the Federation in 2022, led by the able President Mohammed Sahnoon Esq, Shaaban Mohammed, Technical Director and the rest of the Team drew water out of stone to ensure its tabled activities materialized.
The organization of the UCI mandatory National Championships organized in three categories, Elite, under 23 and Junior with only affiliated clubs and cyclists was allowed to take part in the event at the Ablekuma Ollebu route which fully sponsored by the federation Executive members.
The federation organized five (5) days National Tour of Ghana – Route du Sud (route of the south) at Accra Sports Stadium as the start and finish of the four days and the fifth day was climax by Promasidor, BIC, S Sports, Riyadh Construction, IQRA Ltd, Lite Blue at Ablekuma Ollebu route which more than 20 media cover the events and it was a pick of the pack. This particular calendar activity coughed over Gh95,000 to organize. It covered four regions in Ghana including Greater Accra, Eastern Region, Central Region, and the Volta Region.
The Federation was able to roll in lead sponsors Promasidor, Producers of cowbell products in the final stages of the event. And infact, that was where Promasidor blessed the Federation again with yet another sponsorship package of a come-back Tour Du Ghana in 2023 and 2024.
The Federation, in collaboration with giant Insurance company, Prudential organized another blister of a race dubbed “PruRide2022” inside independent square along some route of Accra – Osu encompassing over 70 riders. Organizers of that race, Carbon AV were very happy with the race and have committed themselves in subsequent years.
Another historic event was organized by club debutants, Gladiators Cycling club based in Accra led by able Chief of Gladiator, Kojo Graham Esq. This was the first ever in the history of Cycling that a transponder was used in determining the final finish. Infact that race was graced by the able LOC chairman Dr. Ofosu Asare and his elation speaks volume of the stride of Cycling now. Representatives from the Minister of Youth and Sports and Ghana Olympic Committee also graced the occasion. The race dubbed “OSAGYEFO CRITERIA RACE” was to reflect the achievements of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The OSAGYEFO CRITERIA RACE has caught up the attention of the world body – the Union Cycling International-UCI, and subsequently, the Gladiators Cycling club event has been duly recognized by the world body. The Ghana Police Services personnel at event was so wonderful on safety of cyclists and all motorists that made the sponsor happy to promote the 2023 OSAGYEFO RACE from one day to three day stages starting from the home town of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Nkroful at Ellembelle District in the western region.
It was during the mid section of last year, 2022 that, under the instrumentality of the President and Technical Director, the issue of the main achievement sprang up. Ghana was to become a beneficiary of a standardized velodrome, eating up into a Mammoth financial injection of $60m from the Korean investors DerbyWheel Pro Keiren, who had established the great work of the Ghana Cycling Federation.
The Confederation of African Cycling -CAC, then would have to come in and throw the options for the Federation in its bid to host the African Road Paracycling Championships in 2023. The Cycling Federation accepted the challenge and this development is now a reality, not a mirage. Over 30 African Cycling powehouses will be storming the Ablekuma enclave in February this year 2023 to establish dominance on the Road. This program forms part of qualification to Paris 2024 Olympics. Infact, over 50 Paracyclists in Ghana would be classified and be eligible to make more slots for the Paris Olympics. This development of classification has saved the Government of Ghana a lot cash since it would have been practically impossible to send these Para Athletes outside the country to get classified.
Through the efforts of the Federation in 2022, the UCI has again, through its solidarity channels, has secured 6 Road Bikes and other accessories costing about $40,000, of which the Federation will benefit in the not too distant future.
An additional online course was cemented for 15 participants wanting to undertake the Commissaires’course. That course is currently underway. The Federation wouldn’t have been able to foot the bills for this course to be done outside the country.
The Federation climaxed its achievements with the participation at the Birmingham Games in the Road/ Paracycling/ Track events. No medal was won but Chris Symonds’ participation in the Time Trials for Ghana caught up the attention of the UK House of Commons as he plies his trade there – raising up high the flag of Ghana on that count. Female participation in the Track Cycling has been hugely celebrated.
The Federation for the first time in Cycling history and for first time an Africa country to participated in the Cycle ball championship in Belgium, attracting commendation from the World Body-UCI.
The Cycling Federation concluded its highs last year 28th December,2022 with one of the most peaceful Elective Congresses any other Federation could relish, bringing into force a new set of Executives to drive the Federation in 2023 and beyond.
Finally, when the Federation heard that it had been shortlisted on the upcoming SWAG Awards, that was nothing strange. In practical and on paper, the Ghana Cycling Federation deserves that.
The nomination of Anthony Boakye again as the top wheeler of the year 2022, is tact, and undisputed. A young Cyclist who understudied from the late Samuel Anim, has gracefully levellled up in the game and has dissected the contours of the sport.
Anthony has captained the National Team,the Golden Pedals in all spheres last year, exhibiting leadership by example to his peers.
Anthony, not only got the nod from the Federation through his riding prowess, but also his sense of discipline, focus and respectful stance towards the Federation. Infact the Sunyani based cyclist attracted the eye of French Embassy in nominating him to volunteer in Cycling and learn more ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
2023: The velodrome project secured last year is in deep contention. And history would be made when that $60m edifice gets erected.
The first ever World Cycling Championships to be staged in Glasgow this August is sumptuous. And Ghana would be represented in seven disciplines.
The hosting of the two African Championships at the same time, the Africa Road and the Africa Paracycling Road Championships is rife. The Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Authority have given their blessing. Come February, history will be made at Ablekuma – Ollebu – Pokuasi route
The new Management Committee of the Federation is heavy and willing. This year will surpass all.
SPECIAL GAME MASTERS DONATES TOWARDS AFRICA ROAD PARACYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
With less than three weeks to the historic hosting of the Africa Road Paracycling
Championships in Ghana next month,
individuals and companies are showing their love and support
for the Ghana Cycling Federation.
President of GCF receiving the cash donation from CEO of SGM
One of such entities is the Special Game Masters, an adaptive Sports Development Organization in Ghana who presented a cash amount of Gh2000 to support the preparations of the National Team ahead of the crucial task ahead.
SGM again provided Gh400 representing 300 pieces of bottled water for the upcoming Radio Gold Anniversary Cycling Challenge on 6th March.
CEO of Special Game Masters,Mr. Ken K. Kalai who doubles as a Sports Development consultant commended the Cycling Federation on this feat chalked. He impressed the commitment of SGM to further collaborate with the Cycling Federation to achieve future success in subsequent programs.
Other members of the delegation included; Francis Koku Okra, a powerlifter and Paralympian, Richard Okra, Technical Officer,Isaac Annor ,the Public Relations Officer of SGM.
The President of the Ghana Cycling Federation Mohammed Sahnoon Esq, on welcoming the team, assured them that the Federation will put to good use the amount received.
Secretary General of the Ghana Cycling Federation Shaaban Mohammed also thanked the delegation for their surprise gesture shown to the Federation.
Ghana will be hosts to over 20 countries in the next few days in the upcoming Africa Road Paracycling Championships in Ablekuma Ollebu from the 8th-17th February,2023.
Dennis Kweku Moore Public Relations -Ghana Cycling Federation
