The tenth edition of the sprint talent search, Ghana Fastest Human, was launched at Accra Stadium with next year's African Games in Ghana very much in mind ©Ghana Olympic Committee/Facebook

Accra Sports Stadium, due to play host next year for Ghana’s staging of the 13th African Games, has seen the launch of the tenth edition of the Ghana Fastest Human (GFH) initiative.

The GFH, which is sponsored by Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), seeks to "unearth talents" that will restore Ghana to its former levels of sprinting.

With excitement rising for the Games, set for March 8 to 23 next year, the launch was attended by Nana Asante, secretary to the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, as reported by Modern Ghana.

He commended Reks Brobby, also known as Nana Agyeman, the founder of the GFH programme, for his vision and commitment to the dream which is now a reality that has propelled many Ghanaian sprinters to greater heights.

According to Asante the event is in line with the Government’s Public Private Partnership policy and he thanked GNPC and all companies supporting the project.

The first action of the 2023 Ghana Fastest Human initiative, which has been launched at the Accra Stadium, is due to take place on April 29 at the Tamale Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium ©Ghana Olympic Committee/Facebook
The first action of the 2023 Ghana Fastest Human initiative, which has been launched at the Accra Stadium, is due to take place on April 29 at the Tamale Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium ©Ghana Olympic Committee/Facebook

"Our partnership with the Ghana Fastest Human has brought development to athletics," said GNPC’s Anthony Ampofo, who mentioned sprinters including Joe Paul Amoah, who clocked a 100 metres time of 9.94sec in Baltimore last year before winning 100m bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and Ben Azamati, who recorded 9.90 in Austin, Texas, also in 2022.

Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, executive chair of the 13th African Games Organising Committee maintained the Games will be delivered as planned as the President and Government of Ghana are extremely committed to hosting Africa’s best sportsmen and women for the first time in the country, and had invested more than $2 million (£1.6 million/€1.8 million) on facilities.

He added that new sporting facilities are springing up at the Games Village at the University of Ghana, Legon where athletics and rugby would be held, and Borteyman, where an aquatic centre for swimming and tennis courts are being constructed together with a dome for indoor games.

He added that the landmark event, which has remained with its title of Accra 2023 despite being postponed to 2024, will involve 12 Olympic qualifiers.

The Ghana Fastest Human initiative, launched for a tenth successive year at the Accra Stadium, has helped unearth sprinting talents such as Joe Paul Amoah, right, pictured with his 100m bronze medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games ©Getty Images
The Ghana Fastest Human initiative, launched for a tenth successive year at the Accra Stadium, has helped unearth sprinting talents such as Joe Paul Amoah, right, pictured with his 100m bronze medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games ©Getty Images

"Let’s grow sports, let’s invest in sports, because the benefits are enormous," he added as he called on Ghanaians to support the African Games financially.

Professor Peter Twumasi, director general of the National Sports Authority, said the GFH programme had had a tremendous impact since it started, bringing honours to the nation.

"The steam is increasing in athletics, and we hope to shine at the African Games," he said.

The launch attracted former top athletes such as Mike Ahey, Commonwealth champion in the long jump at Perth in 1962 and in the men’s 4x100m in Edinburgh in 1970, Ohene Karikari, the 1974 Commonwealth 100m bronze medallist and 200m specialist Gibert Okoe Addy.

The first programme of the 2023 edition is due to be held at the Tamale Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium on April 29.

In 1999 Leonard Myles-Mills became the first Ghanaian sprinter to better 10.00 for the 100m, running 9.98 in Johannesburg to win the All-Africa Games title.

Emmanuel Tuffour, who ran a personal best of 10.07 in 1994, was a member of the Ghanaian 4x100m team that set a national record of 38.26sec in finishing fifth at the 1993 World Athletics Championships.

In the 2021 edition, Sarfo Ansah qualified for the Tokyo Olympics as he won in 10.14.