Categories
Share This Story!

Ghana Badminton, first in Africa to launch the best-redesigned National Sports Federation website.

GHANA BADMINTON FIRST IN AFRICA TO LAUNCH THE BEST-REDESIGNED NATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION WEBSITE

April 16, 2023, Accra, Ghana-Ghana Badminton Association, the governing body of the Olympic sports of Badminton in Ghana, representing circa 4.2 million nationwide members of the sport, after many days of hard work and dedication from our local and international technology development team, is pleased to announce the launch of our updated website!

The national federation aimed to create a more valuable, user-centric, responsive playing and partnership resource across all platforms and devices during the redesign process. Specifically, we focused on making it easier for our users to learn and locate helpful information about our sport as a daily solution for their particular sports lifestyle and industry available at their desks and on mobile devices.

The redesigned website provides instrumental case studies with athletes and membership focus and highlights completed projects and themes by athletes (beginners, recreational and elite) across the country, created with a view of our partners and paid-up members within our knowledge centre along with other pages on processes and governance to expand your industry knowledge, all integrated into an online payment system.

Dr Benjamin Baah-Konadu, Ghana Badminton’s Event Officer, shared, “Our cardinal objective during this redesigned website process was to create a debt of information on our sport, governance, structures, the historical performance of our national teams, our athlete’s national ranking, events, 63 sporting policies and guidelines. In line with our forward-looking development strategy, we have also commissioned and introduced the first safeguarding guidelines and procedures for our general membership- the first in Africa by any Badminton national federation.”

Dr Baah Konadu added, “This redesigned website, an upgrade from the first website, will provide our growing members with several membership plans and categories with more tools to share their ideas and solutions to some of the most challenging development, events and governance issues, all in an open, visibly transparent manner. In addition, they can achieve their sports goals by combining their talent, innovation and initiatives.”

The redesigned website has 143 pages of information. It has attracted 756,114 views in the last 36 hours of its launch, attracting viewers to feel and review information on events, development, competitions, safeguarding and membership, to mention but a few.

Evans Yeboah, President of Ghana Badminton, added: “In line with our Mission 2027 Strategic Plan, we are excited about this redesigned platform because it is an integral part of our strategy to hone the popularity of our members and shared interest groups, raise the profile of our partner’s networks and increase their membership. We are excited that, once again, we are providing the lead and leadership for many African sporting national federations to emulate whilst being aware of this fantastic resource, access, and the opportunities enhancement within our integrated marketing communication in this digital age has to offer.”

The National Federation has been promoting the sport with its inclusivity and diversity; reminiscing this, in 2021, Ghana Badminton signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Education’s (UoE) Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sports (HPERS) Department, Winneba, thus becoming the first in Africa to Implement Shuttle Time University Course. The Mou has helped to establish and undertake cooperative programmes in badminton research, university courses, training, scholarships, technical and physical education for athletes and technological development in sport management and administration, including implementing Badminton World Federation’s Shuttle Time University Course.

Again, In technical officiating and coaching, in May 2022, one of its graduated 273 technical officials, Gabriel Atseku, became the first Ghanaian to be appointed as Badminton Africa accredited umpire in 60 years. In line with the 2027 Strategic Mission Plan, Ghana Badminton trains and develops local referees to the highest national level, allowing the general public more development and Event information through its website and other social media handles.

Nothing compared to last year’s Commonwealth Games success bringing memories of how the national team performed at the multisport event in Birmingham- producing the best individual results since Ghana Badminton made its appearance at the Commonwealth Games after their debut in the 1998 Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Visit the new website for the Ghana Badminton Link here and learn more about our work. There is also information about joining or working with us. We hope you enjoy our new look!

**ENDS**

About Ghana Badminton

Founded in 1962, Ghana Badminton is the governing body of Badminton in Ghana, responsible for representing, coordinating, administering, marketing and developing the sport in close cooperation with our authorized and regulated Government Authority and Development partners.

As the national sports governing body for the Olympic Sport of Badminton, we do this by representing every member of the Badminton Community at the government level by providing a well-governed, compliant, and inclusive global sport and implementing a strategic plan for the national sport with our implementation partners 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.

We do this by leading and inspiring all stakeholders; delivering entertainment through exciting events to drive fan experience; and creating innovative, impactful, sustainable development initiatives.

With millions of Ghanaians playing yearly, Badminton looks 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, worthy of the world’s fastest sport.

Get Involved!

www.ghanabadminton.org

 

Categories
Uncategorized

Latest post

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua

Categories
Share This Story!

Alphous Kelvin Evans Named 2022 SWAG Badminton Player Of The Year

January 1, 2023-Ghana Badminton’s Champion Alphous Kelvin Evans has been named Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) 2022 Best Badminton Player Award, according to a release from the SWAG Secretariat On Christmas Eve.

During the eligibility period from December 2021 to November 2022, Alphous was almost always unstoppable, winning many laurels in Africa, including National and African Championship events.

His pinnacle across the year was his excellent performance during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, ranking 17th globally in Men’s Double Event, 23rd in Men’s Singles Event and 17th in the Mix Doubles Event of the 72 Commonwealth Nations and States.

Badminton was one of the sports contested at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, held in Birmingham, England. The 2022 Commonwealth Games was the fifteenth staging of Badminton at the Commonwealth Games since its inclusion in 1966 and the second staging within England specifically. Ghana Badminton made its seventh appearance at the Commonwealth Games after its debut in the 1998 Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Alphous, having reflected on a 2017 national journey for Kelvin Evans Alphous, where he began his badminton career in his Senior Secondary School days at the Swedru School of Business led by the late Ebenezer Affaidu as his Coach. Ebenezer Affaidu was a Badminton Coach from the Shuttle Time Course in 2017/2018 under the Ghana Badminton Schools Project, educating and training potential Badminton players across the country.

In 2019, Alphous participated in national events and graduated onwards through national team selections, climbing on the part of growth towards his African Games, Commonwealth Games and Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification.

Alphous shared, “I can’t believe I am receiving this high-level award on the same stage with some of the world’s advanced players. It’s a dream come true, and I am excited about it. This will be my second award, and I am delighted that sports writers and journalists in Ghana have reckoned with my efforts and will continue to work hard to make my National Federation and Ghana proud. There is nothing compared to the national award, and it holds a special place in our sport. The International and National Games gave me my first exposure to big championships and multi-sport events. Coming from a village near Agona Swedru is a privilege, and this will inspire me to do more in my sports career.” Alphous Kelvin

Alphous is also the Ghana Badminton Athletes Commission Chair, whose constitutional mandate since 2020 has been to represent and promote athletes’ views and interests at the highest level of decision in Badminton in furthering the objectives of Ghana Badminton to be the leading national federation in the country through its Strategic Plan ‘Mission 2017-2027’

The 47th MTN Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards will be on the theme “Honouring Sports Excellence.” The event is slated for January 28, 2022, in Accra and will witness 25 individual awards, ten special awards, and the President’s Special Award for the Best Journalist of the Year.

***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 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 determine how it will be implemented nationally, regionally, and local.

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 in line with the global vision of giving every child a chance to play for life by leading and inspire all stakeholders; to deliver entertainment through exciting events to drive fan experience; and to create innovative, impactful and sustainable development initiatives.
With thousands 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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ghanabadmintonofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BadmintonGhana

 

Categories
Share This Story!

Ghana Badminton: Gabriel Atseku Becomes Ghana’s First Badminton Africa Accredited Umpire In 60 Years

Accra, Ghana May o6, 2022- Ghana Badminton: Gabriel Atseku Becomes Ghana’s First Badminton Africa Accredited Umpire In 60 Years

Ghana Badminton Association, the governing and supervisory body of Badminton in Ghana, has expanded its diversity of technical officiating for the sport as Gabriel Atseku received his Badge certificate as an Accredited African Badminton Umpire- First in six decades for Ghana.

Since 2017, Ghana Badminton has introduced a technical officiating strategy plan where it had grown to 84 technical Officials in the national accreditation and certification pathway, an achievement enviable of a good deal of Badminton sporting nations in Africa.

In line with Ghana Badminton’s 2027 Strategic Mission Plan, Ghana Badminton train’s develop and assess umpires to the highest national level for their top national and international tournaments. Umpires who are at a sufficient level and experience may then be assessed and promoted to become accredited or certificated at the continental level and finally through the world level.

We look at this capacity building for our technical officials focusing on achieving an action thematic plan to increase representation and increase the diversity of technical officiating with a key criterion for selection of quality, skills, and experience; greater badminton people who add value.

Ghana Badminton President & Board Chair Yeboah Evans said: “On behalf of the Board, and members a hearty congratulation to Gabriel Atseku on this continental success, this prowess exhibited by you had shown success towards our National Technical Officiating pathway, providing career options for persons interest in becoming technical officials within the sport. Our development in technical capacity is leaping and in the last six decades to be the first Ghanaian on this achievement gives us joy and growth-an enviable emulation by all persons looking to be in Badminton. We are also particularly excited that 84 more technical officials are at various levels of national accreditation all in tandem with preparation also for the African Games in Ghana next year and the start of our first National Premier League in July 2022″

Commenting, on this, Gabriel Atseku, Ghana’s First African Accredited Umpire In 60 Years shares: “I am thrilled and look forward to building on this achievement to develop the sport as a source of encouragement to climbing the ladder of certification and officiating at the World level. I thank the support of family, school, and Ghana Badminton, for the selfless tacit knowledge and guide towards this progressive pathway.

In Badminton, the umpire has the authority over a particular match and oversees the badminton court and its immediate surrounds. The umpire ensures it conducted the match under the Laws of Badminton, the rules and regulations of the sport and any other regulations pertinent to the specific tournament. The umpire’s jurisdiction shall exist from the time the players enter the court before the match until they leave the court after the match.

Ghana Badminton’s technical officials are an integral part of the Badminton sport, and it is their involvement that makes it possible for Ghana Badminton to run structured and fair tournaments, as the governing and supervisory body of the sport. Officiating is another way to take part in badminton, whether you are currently playing, retired, or just have a passion for badminton. Taking part in an officiating workshop is also a great way to learn about tournament regulations and the rules of competition; We encourage parents and friends of competing athletes to join in officials’ workshop to develop their knowledge of the sport.

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 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 determine how it will be implemented nationally, regionally, and local.

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 in line with the global vision of giving every child a chance to play for life by leading and inspire all stakeholders; to deliver entertainment through exciting events to drive fan experience; and to create innovative, impactful and sustainable development initiatives.
With thousands 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

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Ghanabadmintonofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BadmintonGhana

Categories
Share This Story!

Ghana, First In Africa to Implement Badminton Shuttle Time University course

10 May Ghana, First In Africa to Implement Badminton Shuttle Time University course

Please find below the latest Shuttle Time Whats New section featuring the implementation of Shuttle Time University course in Ghana.

https://shuttletime.bwfbadminton.com/whats-new/ghana-first-in-africa-to-implement-shuttle-time-university-course
This is a massive boost for Shuttle Time Badminton in Schools Programme in Ghana and also in the African region.

Categories
news Share This Story!

2022 Commonwealth Games: Ghana Badminton’s Nantuo/Tornyenyor Inches Closer To A Medal Zone In The Women’s Double Event Facing Jamaica In The Next Round

Accra-Ghana August 4, 2022

2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: GHANA BADMINTON’S NANTUO/TORNYENYOR INCHES CLOSER TO A MEDAL ZONE IN THE WOMEN’S DOUBLE EVENT FACING JAMAICA IN NEXT ROUND  

Women’s Double event at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will see Ghana’s Prospera Nantuo and Cindy Tornyenyor battle it out with Jamaica’s top seed Richardson Tahlia and Wynter Katherinein towards the quarterfinals of the women’s Double event.

NANTUO/TORNYENYOR moved safely through their opening match against Falkland Islands in the opening of the Women’s Double match at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, though not without a scare at the hands of the islanders from Latin America.

Ghana had today lost to Scotland, Maldives, Malaysia, and Cyprus in the Singles event and lost narrowly to Zambia and Uganda in the Men’s Double and Mix Double Events. Ghana’s hitman, Kelvin Alphous, managed to play with a hamstring strain injury around his biceps’ femoris drilling to the admiration of the packed hall of crowd bruising with excitement. It was a tactically savvy performance too from the team and fought across all fronts to level it up.

Afterwards, Nantuo said: “Our opponents had an awkward style, with more flat backhand drives. My partners in Men and Mix Doubles played very well, but I would have love to close it out earlier on the tight drops and more smashes. I also reckon that injuries are part of the process, but I managed to complete my matches on a very long day.”

Despite some wonderful rallies and shots from the last match played, the Women Double event could even stretch to a rubbers game.

Ghana’s Nantuo/Tornyenyor will look horns with the Jamaicans who are the best and highly ranked from Latin America, but the Ghanaian team can be proud of their performances, having been at its best since Ghana’s participation in the 1998 Commonwealth Games, as they are more than ready against some world-class opposition, and it will take great confidence into the match with focus and determination from all Ghanaians.

The last 16 match is tomorrow, August 5th, 2022, at 11:00 BST.

For full details and the badminton schedule, visit: Badminton (birmingham2022.com)

ENDS

 

Categories
Share This Story!

2022 Commonwealth Games: Alphous/Nantuo Seal Three Matches Victory On The First Day Of The Knockout Stage For Ghana Badminton

Accra-Ghana August 3, 2022

COMMONWEALTH GAMES: ALPHOUS/NANTUO SEAL THREE MATCHES VICTORY ON FIRST DAY OF KNOCKOUT STAGE FOR GHANA BADMINTON

The quest for a medal glory for Ghana will spur up for badminton as the Golden Shuttlers begun a quest to register a debut three wins today at the Ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom

Whilst the three event wins from Team Ghana makes a strong start to progress in events at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham NEC Arena and to qualify for the next knock-out stage. The talented squad did not get a wrong foot in their first three matches to win against Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Falkland Islands.

The golden shuttlers faced a swift return to action with the singles competitions with Ahmed Abdul SAMAD dismantling his Sierra Leonean opponent with a 21-1, 21-1 on the opening day of the Badminton Ghana Matches, in front of a raucous crowd at the NEC Hall. Samad will thus meet with Ajfan RASHEED of Maldives in the round of 32.

The women’s double fledgling pair of TORNYENYOR/NANTUO combination saw Ghana pull apart the Falkland Islanders country from Latin America. The better ranked Falkland Islands female duo fell with a score of 21-17, 22-20 making the Ghanaian female squad progress to the next round igniting a meetup with RICHARDSON Tahlia / WYNTER Katherine from Jamaica in the next round.

Ghana lost the first Mix Double pair of TORNYENYOR/TAMAKLOE to Mauritius, whilst Aaron Tamakloe suffered a defeat from Pakistan’s Men’s Singles Player in the rounds of the match.

The Second Mix Double event became a thriller as Ghana’s best Mix Double pair in ages showed brilliance and over-powered the African highly ranked Mix Double pair from Zambia. The Ghanaian pair beat the Zambians with a score line of 21-19, 21-14, thus progressing to the next stage of the competition.

ALPHOUS was in great form and his devastating combination of powerful smashes and delicate drop shots proved too good for the day and with NANTUO taking great confidence from a solid run that saw the pair win to the admiration and support of the crowd at the 10,000-seater NEC Hal Arena.

“I know the needed to grow courage going into this game as we were not familiar with the Zambian’s, but I actually think I played a lot better in the second set,” ALPHHOUS said.

“It is a game of momentum and although I’d be good, we had different Game plans to counter the opponents, which changed the dynamic of the match, and we think that was the big difference today” Remarked NANTUO

Coach Moses Adu, Ahmed Abdul Samad, Kelvin Evans Alphous (Captain), Cindy Esi Etornam Tornyenyor, Prospera Nantuo, and Aaron Dromo Tamakloe leads the players to represent the National Badminton Team, in 2022 Commonwealth Games-Golden Shuttlers and capitalise on the once in a lifetime opportunity to bring home success for the first time in our own country.

After the national selection criteria, the Badminton players represented Team Ghana across Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles Events

That result sealed Ghana’s progression to the next important round, tomorrow, August 4, 2022, with six matches for the right to earn close to a medal in front of a passionate home crowd.

For full details and the badminton schedule, visit: Badminton (birmingham2022.com)

ENDS

Categories
Share This Story!

2022 Commonwealth Games: How Commonwealth Games Debutant Alphous And Tornyenyor Graduated From Ghana Badminton’s Schools Programme

Birmingham, England, August 7, 2022

2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: HOW COMMONWEALTH GAMES DEBUTANT ALPHOUS AND TORNYENYOR GRADUATED FROM GHANA BADMINTON’S SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

Many will not have come to terms with how two Ghanaian professional Badminton athletes, Cindy Etornam Tornyenyor and Kelvin Evans Alphous, ended up at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham competing in Singles and Doubles Event for Badminton.

Having reflected from a 2017 journey for Kelvin Evans Alphous, where he began his badminton career in his Senior Secondary School days at the Swedru School of Business led by the late Ebenezer Affaidu as his Coach. Ebenezer Affaidu was a Badminton Coach from the Shuttle Time Course in 2017/2018 under the Ghana Badminton Schools Project, educating and training teachers across the country.

In 2019, Alphous took part in national events and graduated onwards through national team selections, climbing on a part of growth towards his Commonwealth and Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification.

Alphous shared, “I can’t believe I am playing on a high level with some of the world’s advanced players. It’s a dream come true from me, and I am excited about it. In between the Olympics, there is nothing compared to the Commonwealth Games. It holds a special place in our sports ecosystem. The Games exposed me to big championships and multi-sport events. Coming from a village near Agona Swedru is a privilege, and this will inspire me to do more in my sports career.”

The programme graduated 273 Physical Education Teachers from 198 Schools nationwide in 2017, mastering a whopping coverage of schools nationwide. The current Board launched the second phase of the Mission 2025 Plan in 2022, focussing on sustaining and building long-term growth is getting schools to embrace badminton.

Cindy Tornyenyor Shared, “Never saw me be here, in Birmingham, England, competing with the world’s best. I watch players and frequently matches on TV and YouTube, and I am glad it feels rekindling like ages ago. Still, I will use that experience gained here and hopefully carry on with the scholarship that Ghana Badminton gave me to continue to shine at the international level.”

Ghana Badminton, President shares, “We are enthralled by our enhanced development initiatives across technical and coaching education spanning from a school’s project we implemented promoting a thriving sporting system of inspiring positive change thus creating most tremendous decade success of extraordinary sporting achievement by the end of 2027.

Right from 2017, the development team for Badminton in Ghana had partnered with various stakeholders in Ghana and across Africa under the guidance of the Badminton World Federation to ensure that students in both secondary and primary schools participate in activities related to the Badminton sport. The Schools projects are entry-level schools and programs for the school’s club Badminton, graduating into inter-schools, super zonal and the national schools and colleges competition.

The project course educates coaches on how to instil badminton lessons in children aged between 6 to 15 years in a fun and safe way. Participants gain basic knowledge in the coaching of Badminton, enabling physical Education and community club coaches to learn and teach beginning athletes of the sport to graduate toward podium results on the world stage.

The National Federation in Ghana is working on getting Badminton offered for young people in 512 additional community venues and being played in 3,212 more schools -primary, secondary, and tertiary (teacher training, universities, etc.) by 2025 and providing a new school-club link programme that will offer a sustainable partnership with all schools.

Ranked 185 in the World Juniors ranking, Cindy Etornam Tornyenyor also graduated from the school’s programme in 2018. Having attended West Africa Senior High School and led into Badminton by Mr Emmanuel Otoo of Adenta Badminton Club, her pivotal journey of Badminton began in this endeavour, causing spiral training and focus on the national level.

In 2019, Cindy Etornam Tornyenyor continued and represented the Greater Accra Region at the National Schools and Colleges, Bolgatanga sports and achieved podium results. Tornyenyor laments her best role model is to be in the World’s top 50 ranked players by 2027 from now and make Ghana Badminton proud again in the Women’s Single and Women’s Double events.

Nothing compared to this year’s Commonwealth Games brings memories of how our Badminton in Schools project, which aggressively started in 2017, has survived, and we are progressively reaching out to each school in Ghana. Ghana Badminton made its seventh appearance at the Commonwealth Games after its debut in the 1998 Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ghana competed in Athletes, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Beach Volleyball, Aquatics, Squash, Triathlon, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Hockey and 2 Para Sporting Disciplines, with Boxing winning 2 Silver and one Bronze medals and athletics, winning 2 Bronze for Ghana.

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event with a fully integrated programme of para-sports disciplines, and this year’s Games was extra unique with packed stadiums and arenas after Tokyo 2020 took place behind closed doors. Birmingham 2022 had the largest female and para-sports programme in history after a new discipline of Women’s T20 Cricket, Beach Volleyball, and Para Table Tennis were confirmed.

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 with regulatory functions 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 nationally, regionally, and locally.

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 in line with the global vision of giving every child a chance to play for life by leading and inspire all stakeholders; to deliver entertainment through exciting events to drive fan experience; and to create innovative, impactful and sustainable development initiatives.
With thousands of Ghanaians playing yearly, badminton looks 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

Facebook:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BadmintonGhana