Member of the winning team receiving the trophy
It was all cheers, joy and action-packed thrill at the maiden Kwahu Republic Canoe racing competition held at Kwahu Adawso in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The gallant men and women from Adawso did not only host the first edition of the water sport but emerged champions to send home the first prize of a whopping GHc5,000 plus complimentary gifts.
Bonkrase placed second, taking home a cash prize of GHc4,000. Tokrom community who placed third had GHc2,500 for their efforts while Gadokorpe and Kwame Dwamena had GHc1,000 each plus complimentary gifts for coming fourth and fifth respectively.
The programme organized by Kwahu Republic was a contest in canoe racing, tug-of-peace, swimming and canoe freestyle display. Management of Kwahu Republic, Africa’s fastest tourism development company, formally announced the unveiling in Ghana of the Kwahu Republic Canoe racing, a water-sporting event organized to discover and train talented young sportsmen in various water games.
"The concept of the Kwahu Republic Canoe Racing has been conceived to provide a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for talents to be groomed into developing and appreciating their potential in some lesser-known sports as canoe racing, swimming, tug-of-peace etc. This is going to be an annual event powered by Kwahu Republic" A statement from the company emphasized.
The programme also aimed at developing an alternative to the paragliding attraction Kwahu is noted for in Ghana was graced by dignitaries, state officials and locals from four Districts.
In this maiden edition, twenty communities along the Afram and Volta lake banks along the Kwahu area will be grouped into four Districts (Afram North & South and Kwahu South & East). Each district had approximately five communities contest for the first round.
The second round of canoe racing saw the first two in each group competing for the first to fifth position. The cumulative score of each community in swimming, tug-of-peace, Canoe sprint will determine the eventual winners.
In his remarks, the Business Manager of Kwahu Republic, Mr. Frank Danchie noted that "Kwahu Republic is proud to float this water sports idea in Kwahu.
"This Canoe racing is a perfect recipe for the creative infusion of fun and excitement into the sport and it signals the arrival of a new dawn in water sports not only in Ghana but Africa as a whole. Today’s event has expectedly been refreshing and we are most grateful to the communities and all our partners who helped this dream take off. See you all next year for another spectacular Canoe racing event."
