By Tilda Acorlor
Greater Accra Region were crowned double champions after winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the 6th Inter-Regional Wheelchair Basketball Championship, which ended in Ho on Sunday.
The four-day tournament, held at the Ho Sports Stadium, featured teams from five regions and drew top dignitaries including Volta Regional Minister James Gunu, Black Stars legend André Dede Ayew, Ketu North MP Eric Edem Agbana, and Alhaji Iddrisu Mutawakilu Ahmed, a Board Member of the National Sports Authority.
Greater Accra dominated the men’s competition, winning all their matches to take gold. Ashanti Region finished second, Central Region took third, Bono Region placed fourth, and host region Volta finished fifth.
In the women’s category, Greater Accra also topped the standings, followed by Ashanti in second and Central in third. Bono and Volta regions did not present teams in the women’s division.
Chairperson of the Volta Para Sports and Mobility Empowerment Association, VPMEA, Betty Gharbin, thanked the Regional Minister for his continuous support and donations toward the development of para sports in the region.
She said the championship was aimed at raising awareness for wheelchair basketball and other para sports in the Volta Region, while promoting inclusion through sport.
In a show of support, Black Stars legend André Dede Ayew pledged GHS 10,000, Ketu North MP Eric Edem Agbana donated GHS 5,000, and Volta Regional Minister James Gunu donated an additional GHS 5,000 and several bags of rice to aid wheelchair basketball and para sports development in the region.
All participating athletes were commended for their strength, skill, and resilience throughout the competition.
The VPMEA said it hopes the visibility from the event will encourage more persons with disabilities to take up wheelchair basketball and other para sports.
