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0 Ghana finally exploded into life at the Accra 2026 African Athletics Championships yesterday, claiming three medals and powering into the men’s 4x100m final in a dramatic turnaround after two frustrating days without a podium finish.
With pressure mounting on the host nation to deliver before an expectant home crowd at the University of Ghana Stadium, Florence Agyemang, Alex Amankwaa and Esther Ohenewaa stepped up with bronze-medal performances to ignite Ghana’s campaign, before the men’s sprint relay team underlined their gold-medal credentials with a commanding heat victory.
After enduring a barren start to the continental showpiece, Ghana’s breakthrough moment arrived in the women’s 400m final where Agyemang produced a composed and disciplined run to secure bronze in 51.87 seconds.
The Ghanaian finished behind Ethiopia’s Ahmed Ajayba, who stormed to gold in 51.54 seconds, while Botswana’s Obakeng Kamberuka claimed silver in 51.79 seconds.
Inspiration for Ghana
Agyemang’s podium finish instantly lifted the mood inside the packed stadium and opened the floodgates for a memorable evening for Team Ghana.
Middle-distance ace Alex Amankwaa followed with another bronze medal in the men’s 800m, showing grit and tactical discipline in a fiercely contested race to clock 1:46.18.
Kenya’s Kimtai Kkelvin Loti took gold in 1:45.47, with Morocco’s Imade Bouchejda securing silver in 1:45.62, but Amankwaa’s late surge ensured Ghana remained firmly on the medal board.
More celebrations followed in the women’s high jump where Esther Ohenewaa delivered one of the performances of her career, clearing a personal best height of 1.81 metres to clinch silver behind South Africa’s Snyman Christi, who won gold with 1.84m.
Ethiopia’s Betselot Alemayehu settled for bronze as Ohenewaa’s leap added another major moment to Ghana’s resurgence.
But the loudest roar of the night arrived in the final race of the day as Ghana’s highly rated men’s 4x100m relay team sent a powerful warning to their continental rivals.
Anchored by Ghana’s fastest man Abdul Rasheed Saminu, the quartet stormed to victory in Heat Two in 38.69 seconds, finishing ahead of Botswana (38.88) and Kenya as the home fans erupted in anticipation of today’s final.
The performance immediately established Ghana as one of the favourites for gold in what promises to be one of the most explosive races of the championships.
Nigeria, Mauritius and Zimbabwe — who finished first, second and third respectively in Heat One — now stand between Ghana and relay glory.
Despite the dominant display, Saminu insisted the team had merely completed the first part of the assignment.
“There is nothing to say. We are excited by the victory in the heats but the real work is in the final. Let’s meet tomorrow,” he said after guiding Ghana safely through.
Teammate Ibrahim Fuseni struck an even bolder tone, declaring: “Ghanaians should expect victory tomorrow. We are looking forward to victory.”
Elsewhere, Ghana’s Mammoudou Baba Seidu narrowly missed out on a medal in the men’s 400m hurdles, finishing fifth in a race dominated by Botswana’s Kemorera Tisang and Victor Ntweng, who secured gold and silver respectively. South Africa’s Can Rensburg completed the podium with bronze.
The championships enter Day Four today with the spotlight firmly fixed on the men’s 4x100m final, a race now carrying the hopes of a nation desperate for a statement victory on home soil.
