Decathlon Ghana Opens Biggest Sports Shop In West Africa

Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Hon Alan K. Kyeremanteng has commended Kwasi Tabury Country Manager of Decathlon Ghana for thinking about doing a big-time business in Ghana and leading a 10-billion-euro worth French company to establish and open the biggest sports shop in West Africa.

Launching Decathlon Ghana at the Junction Mall at Nungua in Accra, the Trade Minister considered Decathlon in Ghana as formidable investment that has raised relationship between Ghana and France to a higher level.

He expressed that the President’s vision of One District, One Factory falls in line with the dream of Decathlon who have promised to employ many Ghanaians and set up a factory to manufacture sports equipment in Ghana in their aim of building one of the most popular sports brands in the world.

The French Ambassador to Ghana HE Francois Pujolas praised the setting up of a well-known brand in Ghana to encourage business among the two countries with the commitment of creating valuable employment.

He noted that the French people love sports and hoped for more cooperation and collaboration among Ghana and France with Air France now operating flights to Ghana.

He hoped that Ghanaian will embrace the ‘Sports 4 All’ initiative for people to live healthy and safe as well as be socially responsible.

Kwasi Tabury gave a historical background of the company and their desire to reach where they are needed most with affordable quality goods and products.

He said Decathlon has French origin and dedicated to sports over the past 40 years in product creation and retail.

He hinted that Decathlon want to be everywhere in the world, though they are already in many countries.

According to the Country Director, Decathlon has a philosophy of “Sport for all, All for Sport” and the vision is to make sports available to every individual by creating an environment that makes sport easily accessible to all. Decathlon has a dream to open 50 stores in Ghana.

“As a French company we have over 300 stores in France and also over 214 stores in China. And in Europe we are the leaders in sports.

“Our business model is to listen and understand the customers. It is key for us to understand the need of our customers. After this we can design and produce our own products for everybody.

More than 15 per cent of our products are made here in Africa. The quality of our products is important to us. All the products here are of 2 years warranty and above.” Mr. Tabury explained.

The commissioning of Decathlon Ghana was attended by the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Elizabeth Kwatsoo Tetteh Sackey Deputy Sports Minister Pious Hadzide, the Minister of Information, Hon. Mustapha Hamid, and Minister of Tourism Hon. Mrs. Catherine Afeku and some traditional rulers from Nungua.

Hon. Hadzide said everybody show love or do sports, because of its implications, and that the Sports Ministry is interested in the initiative.

He emphasised that Ghana is challenged with sports equipment and the presence of Decathlon in Ghana is a relief and commended Kwasi Tabury for the initiative.