Greater Accra Excels In Teakwondo

Greater-Accra stamped its authority in Tae-Kwan-Do during the just ended National Unity when it came tops with 5 gold, 6 silver and 2 bronze medals

The contest lasted for two days. It featured bouts between various weights, which were fought in both male and female categories. It saw some defending champions lose their titles to more aggressive contenders. Outstanding fighters are set to be selected to represent Ghana at the September All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

Alhaji Baba Yakubu, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of Tae-kwon-do was full of praise for the laurels that the region chalked.

According to him, Tae-kwon-do is the only discipline that has consistently brought medals to the country among the other disciplines since 1983.

He however expressed worry about the kind of publicity and support that it receives from the government and the private sector.

“If this discipline, among the lesser known sports, has brought medals to the country, then it is only expedient that more attention be given it in terms of sponsorship, media coverage and collective patronage by the public” he suggested.

Dwelling on the future of the sports, Alhaji Yakubu called for a reintroduction of the sport in the various second cycle schools and the security services and called for private sector participation in the organisation of tournaments.

Alhaji Yakubu added that since there was no coach for the National team, the Greater Accra Tae-Kwan-Do coach, Norbert Amefu, be considered for the job. He described him as a result-oriented young man who “…has been tested, tried and proven to be effective.”

Norbert Amefu, a former national Tae-kwon-do champion who led the Ghanaian contingent to win 6 medals during the 2003 All Africa Games (Nigeria) and 2009 Africa Championship (Cameroon) is tipped by many Tae-Kwan -Do enthusiasts for the job of National coach