Ghana Cycling Federation calls for more girls to take up sport ahead of Tour du Ghana

The Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) has encouraged more young girls to take up cycling as it seeks greater female participation ahead of the 2026 Tour du Ghana.

The federation's Secretary General, Shaaban Mohammed, made the call during the presentation of three racing bicycles donated by Re-Cycling Bikes to Africa through the Village Bicycle Project.

He said one of the donated bicycles would be allocated to a female cyclist as part of efforts to strengthen women's participation in the sport.

Mohammed said the federation expected more women to compete in the criterium races during next year's Tour du Ghana and added that organisers were working to make the event more attractive and rewarding for riders.

He also said the federation hoped to attract more cyclists over longer race distances while encouraging additional sponsors to support the sport.

"This year we hope more girls will participate. We want more girls in the national team so that they can represent Ghana at international events," he said.

Mohammed thanked the donors for their support and expressed hope that more bicycles would be donated in the future.

Re-Cycling Bikes to Africa Executive Director Charlotte Ward said the organisation was committed to making cycling more accessible, particularly for girls.

"Bicycles are for everyone, both male and female," she said.

Ward said the organisation had worked in several African countries, including Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa, for more than 20 years.

She added that the charity had delivered more than 50,000 bicycles to Ghana, ranging from children's and adult bicycles to mountain and road racing bikes.

"We want more people to start riding, especially girls," she said.

Her colleague, Marc Leeks, described his experience travelling through Ghana's Northern and Volta regions as "fantastic", highlighting the country's scenic cycling routes.