President of the African Paralympic Committee (AfPC) and Ghana Paralympic Committee, Mr. Samson Deen, paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, to officially welcome him to office and present key upcoming initiatives of the AfPC.
The highlight of the visit was the announcement that Ghana will host the AfPC Elective Congress and the first-ever Open Para Sports and Classification Festival in November 2025. These historic events are expected to draw stakeholders and athletes from across Africa to Accra.
In his remarks, Mr. Deen emphasized the urgent need to address long-standing challenges within para sports in Africa, including underfunding and lack of athlete classification.
“We’ve normalized the absence of resources for over 30 years. It’s time to change that. This is not about one star athlete anymore — it’s about building a system where everyone gets a fair chance. That’s what the Paralympic movement is about.”
Mr. Deen recounted his own difficult election to the AfPC presidency in 2019, noting that the journey was not about personal achievement, but about reshaping the future of para sports across the continent.
He also outlined plans for the Open Para Sports Festival, which will include athlete classification — a major barrier for many African federations.
“Classification is a big challenge in Africa. Many can’t afford to fly athletes abroad. That’s why we’re bringing international classifiers here. We’re getting strong backing — the Spanish Ambassador has already pledged support, being a person with disability himself.”
He appealed to the NSA for access to venues such as the Borteyman and Legon Sports facilities and collaboration on logistics and staffing.
In response, Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah commended Mr. Deen’s leadership and pledged full NSA support for the initiatives.
“You have our total support. NSA will make its facilities and personnel available to ensure the success of the festival and congress.”
The visit marks a renewed collaboration between national institutions and the para sports movement as Ghana prepares to become the continental hub for disability sports this November.
