Two athletes and coaches selected for Africa Youth Athletes Development project in Nairobi

Ghana has selected four talented individuals, two athletes and two coaches, to participate in the Africa Youth Athletes Development Project 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The initiative is part of Ghana’s strategic preparations for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.

The selection was officially announced during a courtesy visit to the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams, on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The delegation included prominent sports leaders such as Ghana Athletics President Mr. Bawa Fuseini and Ghana Olympics Committee (GOC) President Mr. Richard Akpokavie, along with the selected athletes and coaches.

The chosen athletes are Gladys Boateng from St. Louis Senior High School and Blessed Junior Owusu, both of whom have showcased remarkable performances in recent competitions. They will be joined by experienced coaches, Mustapha Mohammed of Effiduasi Senior High School and Francisca Azumah of Azantilow Senior High Technical School in Bolgatanga.

During the meeting, Hon. Kofi Adams congratulated the young athletes on their selection and emphasised the importance of discipline and hard work. He encouraged them to serve as ambassadors of Ghanaian sports and assured support for their development. In a gesture of encouragement, he pledged to fund their education to whatever level they aspire and presented each athlete with 500 dollars to support their preparations in Kenya.

"We have the talents; all we need now are the right amenities to develop our sports further," Hon. Adams stated. "It’s also important that we include sports like Rugby in our schools to diversify and enhance our sporting culture. We must provide the enabling environment for every sport to thrive."

The Nairobi training camp is expected to offer the athletes high-performance training, exposure to elite coaching techniques, and opportunities to compete in one of the world’s most renowned athletics environments. This initiative demonstrates Ghana’s unwavering commitment to nurturing young talent and increasing its competitiveness on the international stage, especially ahead of major events like the Youth Olympic Games.

As Ghana continues to invest in its sporting future, the selected athletes and coaches represent the nation's hope for a successful showing at the global youth sports stage, fueled by strategic development and international exposure.