Ghana’s Fastest Human founder, Reks Brobby has hinted of a special initiative to restore Ghana’s athletics fortunes.
Team Ghana Fastest Human together with six former athletics greats called on president Akufo-Addo to share the ‘Tokyo dream’ and their grievances at the Jubilee House on Friday.
Also there with the team to share was the initiative which starts now was CEO of GNPC, Dr Kofi Kodua Sarpong.
Brobby expressed worry over Ghana’s 23 year absence in Olympic relay run as 16 countries get to compete now and not every country.
Brobby said “The GAA was able to qualify the women relay team in 2016 and we thought we would try and do same for the men.
“For our team to qualify, we must first try and qualify for the World Relays in May at Japan where the first eight countries get automatic entry and the remaining eight will be decided after the World relays in May.”
He added “For us to be able to try and get to the World relays, the Ghana team will need to compete in March and April to be able to get a qualifying time for the World relays in May, so competitions we are looking at, but not set in stone yet, are Penn Relays, Texas Relays, Florida Relays and Mt. Sac Relays, all in the US, in the months or March and April.
“Working with the current GAA, a budget for these competitions mentioned, has been done and I have gone to GNPC with this budget. So far, we are 80% sure of getting all the funds needed from GNPC, to be able to attempt to qualify the team and for the team to be able to go to the World relays, when we do get a great time at one of these meets mentioned.
“We don’t know who the actual athletes will be, but there are about seven Ghanaians that could help us qualify based on who is fastest at the time.
“Emmanuel Dassor, Emmanuel T 20 Yeboah, Joseph Paul Amoah, Martin Owusu Antwi, all in the US, Sean Safo in the UK and two locals we don’t know who they are yet, who will join these five internationals.
“Of course, GAA, whoever that is at the time, will be responsible for the selection of the team, as all I’m doing is the initiative and getting the money for the initiative.”
GAA will enter the team for the March and April International competitions, and local competitions will be organized to select two to join the foreign based athletes, based on current form, meaning, local competitions will have to be organized in February and March to select the two local men.
The sponsorship is now at the Board level of GNPC for approval, the last and final stage and once it goes, which looks positive, it would be followed by announcement of the initiative.
The President was overjoyed by the initiative and said he would personally monitor the whole process so Ghana gets to qualify under his watch.
The six past athletes include Alice Anum, Hannah Afriyie, Mike Ahey, Oko Addy, Ohene Karikari and Emmanuel Koora Tuffour, who told the President he had moved to Ghana for good, just two days ago.
“Yes, it’s a very ambitious move but my father told me that if your dreams and goals don’t scare you, forget it, guys, I’m scared so help us God,” said president Akufo-Addo.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum, DGN
