Bodybuilding Needs A Lifeline

Kofi Salia receiving the Man Ghana trophy from the GBFA Chairman, Abdul-Hayye Yartey

Bodybuilding nearly made history by staging Africa’s version of ‘Mr Universe’ in Ghana for the first time, but the usual no money syndrome frustrated the dream.

Ghana had been given the privilege of hosting the 10th edition of ‘Mr Africa’ — the first in sub-saharan Africa — by the Africa Federation of Body Building (AFBB) following the nation’s impressive performance at the 2009 Africa Championship in Mauritius.

The five-man Team Ghana won two silver and three bronze to finish third and win the hearts of the bodybuilding chiefs who thought it was time to reward Ghana for her growing interest in the sport which was hitherto a mere pastime for many.

Officials of the Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (GBFA) had forwarded their budget for the Africa Championship to the government and were preparing feverishly for the event originally fixed for October but later rescheduled it for December to allow for thorough preparations. But to their disappointment, a total budget of GH¢35,000 which was later slashed to GH¢23,000 could eventually not be released for the event, unlike 2009 when they enjoyed government support for the Mauritius trip.

As of now, the AFFB has given Ghana a grace period up to the end of the first quarter of 2011 to host the event or forfeit the opportunity. And in response to that directive, the GBFA has fixed next February for the championship in the capital, Accra, instead of Kumasi and has set in motion plans to ensure a successful hosting, though monies are yet to be released for that purpose.

It was the delay in the release of funds which resulted in the change of the original date from October to December, as well as the change of venue from Accra to Kumasi where a news conference was even held to give the event the needed publicity.

As the host nation, Ghana has the mandate to present two teams of eight bodybuilders each to vie for honours for the nation, and officials wish to have an early camping for its medal prospects to brighten their chances. The likes of reigning ‘Man Ghana’, Kofi Salia, aka Asase, Holland-based Dickson Blue, Cornelius Ankrah, Christopher Antoh, Yaw Azure and Cyril Adjah are ready to make Ghana proud, come February.

In view of the ‘Mr Africa’ show, the National Bodybuilding Championship —Man Ghana—had to be held in Kumasi for the first time on September 4 instead of December and was again funded by the GBFA executives, with the support of some sponsors.

At the end of it all, the pride of Ashanti, Asase, made himself and his region proud by lifting the overall trophy for the third time running, compelling the GBFA to give him the title for keeps and retire him from the competition.

The Man Ghana show was, as usual, preceded by two qualifiers for the southern and northern sectors in Accra and Kumasi respectively to set the stage for the thrilling and well-attended national showdown in Oseikrom which produced some potential bodybuilders who cannot wait to take over from the present generation.

Despite the odds, the future holds good for bodybuilding which has the potential to win laurels for the nation in the coming years, given the necessary push.