Ismail A-Hakim Matuka and Mahama Hawa Crowned Champions at the Maiden Northern Strongest Competition

The maiden edition of the Northern Strongest Competition brought together an extraordinary display of power, endurance, and athletic excellence as it united athletes from all five northern regions of Ghana—the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Savannah Regions. Held on December 5, 2025, at the Diamond Dreams Fitness Center, Jacy Court in Tamale, the event marked a significant milestone for strength sports in northern Ghana.

Organized by HotShot Events, the competition attracted massive interest, beginning with an impressive 200+ auditions, which were meticulously narrowed down to 70, and finally to the top 30 strongest men and women who battled it out at the grand finale.

Champions of Strength and Determination

In a fiercely contested Male Category, Ismail A-Hakim Matuka emerged victorious, earning the title of Northern Strongest Man. His dynamic performance placed him ahead of Yahaya Abdul Razak (2nd place) and Jeffrey Darko (3rd place), both of whom also demonstrated outstanding athleticism.

The Female Category saw an equally thrilling contest, with Mahama Hawa powering her way to become the Northern Strongest Woman. She was followed by Gmaliki Vicky, who placed 2nd, and Monica Atorigo, who secured 3rd place with a determined effort.

Winners in both categories received an impressive array of prizes, including:

Cash Prize

Golden Trophy 🏆

Golden Medal

Plaque

Citation

Certificate

Products from Sponsors

A Treat from Maghaz Royal Hotel

Months of Gym Subscription at Diamond Dreams Fitness

Additional for Female Winner: Rice Cooker

The first and second runners-up in both male and female divisions also walked away with cash prizes and assorted goodies.

All 30 grand finale contestants were celebrated and awarded certificates of participation, acknowledging their resilience and commitment.

The success of the Northern Strongest was made possible through the generous support of major and supporting sponsors, including:

Telecel Ghana

Twellium Industrial Company

Promasidor Ghana

Unichem Ghana

Luex Ghana

EB Pharmacy

Ironman Ghana

Ivo Ghana

Kippax Trading Limited

Zaa Multimedia

Maghaz Royal Hotel

Hammy Special

Royal Tiger Nut

Fruitally

Awake Purified Water

Jacy’s Restaurant and Pub

Gh Blinks TV

Beyond being a competition, the Northern Strongest served as a unifying platform for athletes across the five northern regions, showcasing the depth of talent, discipline, and passion within northern Ghana’s fitness community. Its successful debut signals the beginning of an annual tradition set to elevate strength sports and spotlight local athletes on bigger stages.

With Ismail A-Hakim Matuka and Mahama Hawa as its first champions, the Northern Strongest has officially laid a strong foundation for future editions—and a new era of competitive fitness in the north.