The Ghanaian team has expressed deep disappointment after failing to secure any medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, a stark contrast to their impressive performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
In Tokyo, Ghana celebrated its first Olympic medal in nearly 30 years, thanks to boxer Samuel Takyi’s bronze.
However, the Paris Games offered no similar success, leading to frustration and calls for urgent reforms in Ghana’s sports development.
The Ghanaian delegation in Paris included eight athletes competing in track and field and swimming. The team featured the men’s 4x100m relay squad—Joseph Paul Amoah, Ibrahim Fuseini, Benjamin Azamati, and Isaac Botsio—along with sprinter Abdul Rasheed Saminu, high jumper Rose Yeboah, and swimmers Joselle Mensah and Harry Stacey.
The swimming events proved disappointing. Harry Stacey failed to advance past the heats in the men’s 100m freestyle, and Joselle Mensah missed qualification in the women’s 50m freestyle, finishing fourth in her heat.
Unfortunately, the track events also fell short. Rose Yeboah, competing in the high jump, did not progress beyond the preliminary round, despite being a strong medal prospect based on recent performances.
Sprinters Benjamin Azamati and Abdul Rasheed Saminu reached the semi-finals of their events but fell short, with Azamati finishing ninth and Saminu seventh in their heats, missing the finals.
The last chance for Ghana rested with the men’s 4x100m relay team, which was expected to perform well.
However, they were disqualified for a baton exchange error, similar to the disqualification in Tokyo, ending their medal hopes.
The disappointing results have prompted criticism and calls for better sports investment in Ghana, as noted by Charles Osei Asibey, Vice President of Ghana Athletics.
Source: 3news
