By Tilda Acorlor
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts from across the Volta Region are expected in Ho, the regional capital, on 26 September 2026 for the maiden Godwin Adukpo Hill Challenge, a 10KM marathon aimed at discovering and nurturing grassroots talent.
The race will finish at Galenkui/Kabakaba Hill, popularly known as TV Pole, one of the region’s most visited terrains for fitness athletes.
The race will test endurance and provide a platform to identify young long and short-distance athletes from the Volta Region who currently lack access to frequent competitions.
The Hill Challenge is the brainchild of Godwin Atsu Adukpo, a former national athlete and four-time Milo Marathon Champion.
His journey began in Dzita, a coastal fishing community in the Volta Region. At 18, he won his first Milo Marathon title in 2005 and went on to claim three consecutive victories in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Adukpo has also competed in 5,000m, 10,000m and cross-country events.
He represented Ghana internationally, winning in Cotonou, Benin in 2013 and finishing third in Bamako, Mali in 2014.
He now works with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
As a sports advocate, Adukpo says he is concerned about the lack of distance athletes from the Volta Region. That, he says, inspired the Hill Challenge.
Speaking on the motivation behind the event, he said “I’m organizing this challenge to inspire the next generation of athletes from the Volta Region, and to help them fulfil their dreams.”
The Project Lead of the Godwin Adukpo Hill Challenge, Miss Tilda Elinam Acorlor said the 10KM route will combine community roads and uphill sections to test both physical and mental resilience.
“We will start with a marked 7km route through the Ho township to give participants a feel of the community, before the final 3km challenge up Kabakaba Hill,” Miss Acorlor said.
“On weekends we see a lot of people use that route to keep fit. We know talented athletes are among them. They just haven’t been identified intentionally. That is why the Godwin Adukpo Hill Challenge is here to help unearth the athletic talents in them,” she added.
Beyond the competition, the event will include community engagement activities, health screenings, and mentorship sessions for school athletes led by Adukpo.
Organisers say they also expect the marathon to boost sports tourism and support local businesses.
“We are hopeful the event will boost sports tourism in the Volta Region and draw more attention to Kabakaba Hill,” Miss Acorlor said.
She encouraged schools, keep-fit clubs, corporate organisations, security services, and individual athletes to take part.
Registration details.
Registration opens on August 1, 2026.
Participants can register via here to take part in the race.
Categories include elite male and female, junior, and mass participation.
Details on prizes, safety measures and the full route will be published on the official Godwin Adukpo Hill Challenge pages on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, in line with international road race standards.
For many in the Volta Region, the Hill Challenge represents more than 10 kilometres. It is an opportunity for young runners to be seen, supported, and given a pathway to the national stage.
