Akoto captures Pepsi trophy at Tour Du Ghana

Kumasi, Oct 17, GNA - Ghana's cycling hopeful Ayittey Akoto, 33, a member of the BIC Cycling Team toned for his earlier inability to win a stage at the sixth Tour Du Ghana, clocking 53 minutes, 21 seconds to win the Fifth Stage - Kumasi Criterium - to snatch the Pepsi Trophy on Friday.

Akoto, also a member of the national cycling team placed second in the first and fourth stages won by Ivorians Abdulai Troare and Coulibaley N'gatta respectively.

The Ghanaian who took home 400,000 cedis of the competition organized by the Ghana Cycling Association and sponsored by Pepsi also had the Stage Winner SDV Jersey and the first by points Wienco Fertilizer sponsored jersey.

Ouedrago Ahmed of La Cote d'Ivoire took the second position of the 40-kilometre event with a time of 53 minutes, 21.69 seconds with Augustine Amusuvi of Benin taking the third place with a time of 53 minutes 23.69 seconds.

Ahmed collected 300,000 cedis as his prize money while Amusuvi also had 200,000 cedis.

The most important jersey of the first-by time jersey donated by Pepsi was captured by Abdulai Traore of Cote d'Ivoire while the combativeness jersey donated by Ghana Telecom was won by Lokossoune Kouame also Cote d'Ivoire.

The most elegant jersey donated by Woodin went to Adnan Mohammed of Pepsi cycling team in Ghana while the Novotel fair-play jersey went to Segla Kouame of Togo.

The first hot spot event was won by Abdulai Fessoune of Cote d'Ivoire. Akoto of Ghana followed with Lokossoune Kouame of Cote d'Ivoire placing third.

Akoto captured the second hot spot race with Lokossoune coming second and Hamed Oaudrago taking the third place. Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and three teams, Pepsi, BIC and River Parc from Ghana participated in the competition. The final stage takes place in front of Busy Internet Caf=E9, Nkrumah Circle, Accra, on Sunday.