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Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.Psalm 116:15 NIV

Be with us in repeating the words of stanzas 1 and 2 of MHB 647:

Lord, it belongs not to my care

Whether I die or live:

To love and serve thee is my share, and this thy grace must give.

Christ leads me through no darker rooms than he went through before;

He that into God’s kingdom comes must enter by this door.

It is an honour to write this tribute to Ebenezer Affaidu —a friend, colleague, player, teacher, coach, educational administrator, husband, father, and son to the national governing body of the sport of Badminton in Ghana. In our opulence role we knew him, from whatever vantage point, he stood apart as someone special!

The national body of the sport of Badminton first encountered him, at the mid-stage of his career in education and sports administration some thirty years ago, at the University of Cape Coast with our foremost Rev Graham of Agona Abodom Methodist Church. His special leadership abilities and charismatic personality were readily apparent! Our first encounter with him marked the beginning of our longstanding professional friendship and badminton collaboration and enabled coaching for his players at Swedru School of Business to nurture an intent of establishing a Badminton Court at Ajumako Mando, in the Central Region of Ghana. He was passionate about enabling schools to become better places for students to learn and for players to technically believe and practice the sport of Badminton at the world level. This passion for nostalgia was even led by one of his badminton players that he coached to reach the enviable stage of the 2022 Commonwealth Games just this summer in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The unifying force that brought Ebenezer Affaidu to the sport is also critical for his vision of being human as a place where people, cultures and ideas meet and flourish. It is this unifying potential and excellence that he has taught us to harness sports’ ability to be an agent of social change and to shape our societies and world for good. As the national governing body of the sport, we already know, of course, how much individual sports – and athletes – were doing in this area.

Mr Affaidu was a veteran of the sport of Badminton, having led its promotion and development of the sport the last three decades in the central region of Ghana, teaching the sport in schools, craving and budding young lads was his passion-some of whom playing in the national Badminton Team. He also led our Badminton in Schools Shuttle Time Project in the Central Region have taken part in our maiden 2018 Shuttle Time Coaching Education initiatives.

We have lost a huge person to our sport – and all of you here – that you have long recognized sport’s wider responsibility to society and its ability to drive social change, which Affaidu teaches us at all times-even to the extent of dying on the sport. Although much too short, his, was a life well lived! He was a determined, visionary, collaborative, goal-oriented, caring person who loved life and all that it offered and a transformational leader and change agent who had great dreams of what sport could be for his society. He had a gift of innovative thinking, a visionary spirit, and the tenacious patience required to successfully lead meaningful sports reforms.

His many awards and public recognitions even during his university days reveal that this was a distinguished sports career of considerable import! His enthusiasm for that next school project was infectious, and a huge component of his success at Ghana Badminton.

Affaidu’s biggest legacy that will preserve his memory with us is to keep a united front and work in our respective badminton communities to transform the leadership landscape in our sporting institutions towards excellent performance.

Lastly, our confidant, counsellor, and hero is no more with us. Nonetheless, we are in tandem with Martha that “he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). You danced in the midst of the storm with grace. Well done for a good job for all of us. Today, we admire and celebrate a life well lived, a desire for God worth cherishing, a generous spirit worth emulating, and a love for the family without boundaries.

Ebenezer Affaidu was Badminton. He will always be Badminton. What a man! What a spirit! What a joyous, mighty champion! We jointly say, “Da Yie. Onyankopɔn mfa wo kra nsie yie” you have done your part and – will be missed by many, but never will you be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to have known him!

Ghana Badminton

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The countdown has begun with exciting proudness of our national glory in the 2022 Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) finale on October 9, 2022. The Badminton star, Aiko, in all her 11 episodes at this year’s event.

Oti Region’s Aiko continues to stun all on 2022 Ghana’s Most Beautiful stage as she sets precedence after precedence, blazing the racket dream of every Badminton player.

Her dream sport began in our National Badminton in Schools programme at the Aburi Girls Secondary School, where she excelled in the sport, leading and playing for her school, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Down the Tertiary Education, where she is pursuing a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ghana.

The Badminton Champion, captain of the Mensah Sarbah Hall Girls Team, is also looking forward to making her university proud at this year’s GUSA Games in Kumasi next month. It’s a mammoth day of celebration for all badminton lovers to cheer her to victory.

Queen Aiko is representing the Oti Region. Her maternal grandfather from the Greater Accra region once played Badminton in the army. She will look to set the stage at the National Theatre this weekend for the finals of the 2022 Ghana’s Most Beautiful event, having reached and positioned herself as the highest scoring candidate in terms of cumulative judges’ scores; and the second in the overall scores in hence, has given a clear testament of her being the ideal candidate for the crown.

Commenting on this, Aiko Adade shared “the glory of Badminton sport had set a pedestal in teaching me tolerance, love and peace for my God, country, and people. I am amazed by the support of sports enthusiasts across the world, and I look forward to your support in winning this crown to help promote the sport across the country that we all cherish.”

The badminton Star has also received 12 nominations and 5 awards to her credit at the end of all the eviction nights; the Most Eloquent and Star Performer awards in 2 nights, which was the first by anyone in the last decade of the competition. Finally, she also won the Star Performer award on the final “Justify Your Inclusion” night and got nominated for Most Eloquent.

“Our sport is expanding across the nook and cranny of the nation, expanding the role of education and sports lifestyle under our 2024 High-Performance Plan, and this notable achievement by Aiko Adade is worth emulating to support her victory this week, and I urge all of us to support her votes to promote the sport that she loves and plays across her school community- It is an inspiring story — a befitting ode to Ghana’s beauty tigress from Akpafu Odomi, who started her extraordinary journey from Aburi benefiting from our Badminton School Project.” shared Badminton President Mr Yeboah Evans.

Ghana’s Most Beautiful is a beauty pageant TV program that educates Ghanaians and the global community about the various cultural values and heritage in the sixteen (16) regions of Ghana. The program is organized by TV3 and its media partners. The pageant aims to promote development through culture and unity.

To see the beautiful Aiko winning the 2022 GMB, will unify the theme and portray the spirit of our sport. Kindly dial 71313# or download the TV3 reality app to vote for her. Don’t forget to show massive support by voting as many times as possible.

It’s what can secure her crown for our badminton family and her national pageant achievement.

ENDS

About Ghana Badminton

We are Ghana Badminton, the Governing Body of Badminton in Ghana formed in 1962. We are the supreme national sports governing body that has the regulatory function for the Olympic Sport of Badminton in Ghana. We do this by preparing and implementing a vision and strategic plan for the national sport and determining how it will be implemented at the national and international levels.

With Olympic success at the heart of our ambitions, we are investing our knowledge and expertise in rebuilding a quality future for our sport by strengthening and developing the domestic game and developing talent to achieve success on the international stage; inspiring the next generation of players and local fans and corporate community in line with the global vision of giving every child a chance to play for life by leading and inspiring all stakeholders; to deliver entertainment through exciting events to drive fan experience; and to create innovative, impactful and sustainable development initiatives.

With millions of Ghanaians playing every year, badminton is looking forward to being the nation’s favourite racket sport by 2024. We want to inspire everyone to play more, support louder and love badminton, from this generation to the next as the world’s fastest racket sport.

Get Involved!

Websites: www.ghanabadminton.org

Volta/Oti Regions welcomes Ghana Badminton’s  Coaching & Technical Officiating Course.

Ghana Badminton’s and entry-level schools invites you to the 4^th Edition of Shuttle Time Coaching & Technical Officiating Course at Ho on 09-10 December 2021.

All Physical Education Teachers and passionate individual persons interested in coaching and officiating to the highest-level in the sport badminton for your career and school.

Registration is on a first come first serve basis with only 45 participants in acceptance.

The program is organized into five sectors – Northern Sector (Tamale), Southern Sector I (Accra Sports College), Southern Sector II (Winneba Sports College), Middle Belt Sector (Kumasi), and Eastern Belt Sector (Oti/Volta/Eastern).

In 2021, three zones in nine regions-covering 70% of the Ghanaian population have been completed,  delivered and already trained 276 coaches and Technical Officials accredited and certified across the Badminton in school’s programme. Per its 2024 Strategic Plan, the Badminton Association is aiming to train a total of 600 coaches and 400 technical officials in delivering across every school and community in Ghana by Dec 2024.

The Badminton in Schools Programme is an on-court course that will teach you practical skills to plan and deliver safe and fun lessons to children in the age bracket of 5–18 in schools and community clubs. The aim of this course is to equip all participants with basic knowledge of teaching badminton and to give them the opportunity to build a career in badminton coaching. The course will also take participants through technical officiating in badminton. This prepares you to build a future professional paid career in becoming a badminton Technical Official at the world level.

To register and more information, click on the link below now! Register here:  http://99g.ghanabadminton.org/schools-programme/to confirm participation.  You are also encouraged to visit our website, www.ghanabadminton.org for all relevant material on the Badminton discipline and the upcoming tournament. A review documentary for last year’s event is available on this link.

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For further inquiries, Contact Mariam on 0546878119 or your District, School or Regional Representative

The National Para Badminton Team made a giant milestone of success for Ghana, last week by winning 1 Silver and 4 Bronze medals at the Uganda Para International Championships, the second-best result by an Africa country at the international Championships.

135 players from 18 Countries included Scotland, Russia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Benin, Brazil, Zambia, Egypt, Uganda, India, Germany, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Congo, Italy, Mozambique, France, and Canada took part in the 10-day international event.

The five Ghanaian athletes namely Mohammed Azumah Salih, Ampofo Juliana, Ampofowaa Akosua, Abubakar Adizatu, and Awudu Asana gave national and continental bravery, when they won the podium medals even to the admiration of the 60 Indian shuttlers, including Tokyo Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat, who also won gold for his country in his event.

Abubakar Adizatu won Silver is her WD – WH 1 – WH 2 category, whilst Juliana Ampofo and Asana Awudu also won Bronze. Abubakar Adizatu again won Bronze in the Women Singles event, having faced the experienced 9^th ranked world champion Ammu Mohan from India in the semi-finals. Ampofowaa Akosua, the stalwart of the team, also won Bronze in the Mix Double category.

The international tournament also witnessed a national coaching education course for Mohammed Azumah Salih, where he also took part in a National Level 1 Classifier Workshop educational session- building up progress for Ghana to have its first para badminton certified coaching access programme.

Commenting on this achievement, the President of Ghana Badminton shared, “we are excited about this achievement from these athletes, who excelled and made Ghana proud under very difficult circumstances. The Badminton World Federation have been instrumental in this achievement by supporting these females through the Female Participation Programme since 2017, thoroughly showing us that, badminton is a sport for all, meaning that it is accessible to men and women of all ages and for people with a wide range of impairments. We will not rest on these laurels but continue to expand our Para badminton country strategy paper on Para badminton’s involvement towards 2023 African Paralympic Games and 2024 France Paralympic Games.”

We recognise para badminton as a Paralympic sport and the sport was present at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognises the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as the world governing body for Para badminton. Ghana Badminton promotes and develops Para badminton in the regions, including delivering a nationwide Disability Coaching Module from January 2022 as part of our coaching education programme.

Yesterday, the team made a beautiful presentation to the Ashanti Regional Sports Development Director of all the beautiful African medals won during the event.

Para badminton athletes compete in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, where they are classified into one of six different sport classes to ensure fairness in competition.

ENDS~

Caption: Find Pictures attached

About Ghana Badminton Association-www.ghanabadminton.org

We are Ghana Badminton, the Governing Body of Badminton in Ghana formed in 1962 and affiliated with the Badminton Confederation of Africa, International Olympic Committee, and International Paralympic Committee through the Badminton World Federation

The unique qualities of badminton make it accessible and enjoyable for anyone and everyone. And we work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to provide traditional and innovative opportunities for all to be involved; from Basic, Senior High and Tertiary School programs to seniors and Veterans social badminton, from School, community, and regional clubs and our national class coaching development to the delivery of our major events.

With Olympic success at the heart of our ambitions, we are investing our knowledge and expertise in rebuilding build a quality future for our sport by strengthening and developing the domestic game and developing talent to achieve success on the international stage, inspiring the next generation of players and local fans, and corporate community.

With thousands of Ghanaians playing every year, badminton is looking forward to being the nation’s favourite racket sport by 2022. We want to inspire everyone to play more, support louder and love badminton, from this generation to the next as the world’s fastest exercise and racket sport.

Get Involved -www.ghanabadminton.org

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Accra, Ghana October 30, 2021

2 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals at 2021 African Championships at Kampala, Uganda: a game changer for Ghana Badminton sport

2 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals marks Team Ghana’s Best Future Performance at the Badminton African Mixed Team Championships, recently

The Ghana Badminton Team, the Golden Shuttlers, put out a golden spirited performance in the Air Badminton Event, winning 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals at the recently held 2021 African Mixed Team Event- which was a 2022 Commonwealth Games qualifying event.

After Eight Days of Badminton Sport and Culture, the event ended in the heart of Kampala, from the October 20-29, 2021, with Team Ghana having well and truly raised the bar – not only in result impressiveness, but played an outstanding game – with full strength and gallant performance facts which made all the difference for team Ghana

The participation of the championship draws participation from Africa’s best badminton and commonwealth countries. They are Uganda (hosts), Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Madagascar, Cameroon, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Benin, Botswana, Mauritius, and Reunion.

The Event was an ambitious development project from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds, and beaches around the world.

Given the diverse range of landscapes and stunning scenery offered across Africa, the alternative version of the game is an exciting opportunity for players to get involved and enjoy the multiple health and social benefits of badminton.

The fascinating sporting competition, and excellent performance in the Mix Team Individual events, where second round results was also achieved for all five events Ghana took part in- having won the hearts, admiration, and accolades of all who were present in the MTN Lugogo Arena.

Each day of the competition produced moments of glory and ecstasy that captured the imagination of the spectators with local and international media alike. Some moments, though, stood out from the rest.

During the immensely popular match between Ghana and Uganda, there was a moment on the ice — and not in the kiss and cry assembly point area of the Hall — that evoked genuine emotions of the sport.

Going into the event as the third ranked mix team event champion in Africa, the event provided a benchmark to compare as a tool for comparison to other African countries of relative program strength; it is important politically in sports for Ghana Badminton players to remain and receive key international competitions with its world ranking points, and an excellent high-level opportunity and development experience for our national athletes, technical officials, and technical team from a competitive and Multi-Sport Games perspective and largely also provided an opportunity for qualification for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, whilst preparing our high-level technical officials to officiate at the 2023 African Games.

“With the final qualifying competition to be held in February 2022, Team Ghana is positioned in qualifying for the 2022 Commonwealth Games- a major achievement by any African country in twenty-one years. Our team’s excellent performance gives success credence towards our 2024 High Performance Plan and with appreciation from MOYS, NSA stakeholders and partners, we are excited this vision is growing in leaps” said Yeboah Evans-President, Ghana Badminton.

The Closing Ceremony of the Competition captured the spirit perfectly too. Attended by Uganda Sports officials, Ambassadors of teams and Uganda Badminton Officials, the Ceremony ended with a demonstration of the best moments of the games: the joy of victories, the agony of loss, beautiful amalgamation of music, dance, culture, and the nations’ parade- a warm welcome to everyone by the locals and participants from the 16 countries.

Team Ghana was welcome on arrival over the weekend by Board members and some government officials with beaming smiles having been elated in podium success on achievement at the 2021 African Championships at Kampala, Uganda.

**ENDS***

Caption: Find Pictures attached

About Ghana Badminton Association-www.ghanabadminton.org

We are Ghana Badminton, the Governing Body of Badminton in Ghana formed in 1962 and affiliated with the Badminton Confederation of Africa, International Olympic Committee, and International Paralympic Committee through the Badminton World Federation

The unique qualities of badminton make it accessible and enjoyable for anyone and everyone. And we work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to provide traditional and innovative opportunities for all to be involved; from Basic, Senior High and Tertiary School programs to seniors and Veterans social badminton, from School, community, and regional clubs and our national class coaching development to the delivery of our major events.

With Olympic success at the heart of our ambitions, we are investing our knowledge and expertise in rebuilding build a quality future for our sport by strengthening and developing the domestic game and developing talent to achieve success on the international stage, inspiring the next generation of players and local fans, and corporate community.

With thousands of Ghanaians playing every year, badminton is looking forward to being the nation’s favourite racket sport by 2022. We want to inspire everyone to play more, support louder and love badminton, from this generation to the next as the world’s fastest exercise and racket sport.

Get Involved -www.ghanabadminton.org

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