By Helga Gokah
The 2026 #RideWithTeamEurope 800km cycling tour from Tamale to Accra has ended with a colourful ceremony at the Netherlands Embassy in Accra.
The seven-day tour, organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the European Union in Ghana, aimed to promote sustainability, unity and healthy living in the country.
The event, which began at Jubilee Park in Tamale, saw six EU ambassadors, officials and cycling enthusiasts travel through five regions and key towns, including Techiman, Kumasi, Nkawkaw and Aburi. The tour climaxed in Accra, with participants planting trees at various destinations to symbolise their visits.
Speaking at the finish line, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, expressed satisfaction with the successful completion of the event over the past seven days, stressing its key goal of engaging communities and raising awareness of environmental responsibility.
Affirming the overall success of the tour and its impact on awareness, the Acting Netherlands Ambassador, Wendy van Meel, emphasised the Netherlands’ strong cycling culture and encouraged more Ghanaians to embrace cycling as part of their everyday routine.
The Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, representing the Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, assured organisers of the Authority’s commitment to promoting cycling through well-structured programmes and strategic partnerships.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Cycling Federation, Shaaban Mohammed, described the tour as a transformative experience that would strengthen relations between the association and the EU in Ghana.
During the tour, the team interacted with traditional and political leaders, including the Buipewura of Buipe, the Bono and Ashanti Regional Ministers, and the Municipal Chief Executive in Nkawkaw.
The event ended with a colourful fashion show to mark the closing ceremony.
