They rise before dawn. No stadium crowds. No loud applause. Just grit, grass, and grit again. On a quiet track in El Wak stadium, Accra, three figures stretch into the morning—two young men with missing limbs, and their coach, holding nothing back.
This is not just training.
This is transformation.
Meet Edmond Govina and Amos Ahianga. Two para-athletes. One dream. To rewrite Ghana’s sporting narrative—one stride, one throw, one heartbeat at a time.
“I actually had an accident — a real traffic accident,” Edmond says.
It was a life-definig crash that stole his arm for life about seven years ago. However, what could have broken him became his making. Today, he’s captain of Ghana’s para-athletics team, flinging javelins and shot puts with a force far greater than muscle: purpose.
“I met a physio during rehab,” he says. “He introduced me to sports as part of my recovery,” Edmond explains.
Introducing a man in pain may not have been enough. “I read more about it and decided to explore athletics. It’s been seven years now, and though it’s been a mixed feeling, I stay committed.”
Amos’ story runs parallel. A sprinter and long jumper, he races not only against time but against doubt, stigma, and hardship.
“Back in primary school,” Amos began his story with a photographic memory. “A coach saw me outrun able-bodied students and told me I could become somebody through athletics.”
These may have sound like words of encouragement for a young man who defied belief that moment, but they aren’t. They were prophetic.
His teacher saw his life today from afar. Here he is changing narratives when he and those around him thought life was over before it started.
“That encouragement made me gain interest. I’ve since travelled to Morocco, France, and Malawi — and the experience changed my life.”
“When I saw people with different disabilities abroad, I realised I’m lucky. I thank God for the strength and ability to compete. Even with my condition, I can do a lot.”
Many people like Edmond and Amos, can indeed, do a lot, but back home, their efforts often go unnoticed.
Many may not have appreciated their craft, but behind their ascent stands Coach Ibrahim Aminu Sulemana. A man whose eye for talent is matched only by his unwavering belief.
“When I saw Amos run faster than able-bodied students, I approached his teacher and said, ‘This boy is a national asset.’
“Edmond came on his own, and we supported his dream too.”
But the hurdles off-track are often higher than those on it. “The challenges are real,” Amos says.
“Waking up at 5 a.m. to train, no transport, and using your own money. Some days, I wanted to give up. But Coach Ibrahim always encouraged me to sacrifice for my future.”
In this country you and I were born, there appears to be a system that often forgets its most determined.
“Our biggest challenge is the lack of local competitions. Without competing with others in our impairment category, we are underprepared for international contests. Our stadiums aren’t friendly either,” Edmond adds.
“We lack essential equipment like prosthetics and racing wheelchairs. These are expensive, and many athletes can’t afford them. Even within athletics, disciplines like wheelchair racing are left out.”
Yet they persist—not just for medals, but for meaning.
Their message is clear: disability is not a reason to beg, but a call to rise.
“I also barber,” says Amos. “I want people on the street to see that we can do more with our lives.”
“Para-sports can restore dignity,” Edmond adds. “We’re more than our limbs.”
From amputee football to powerlifting, Ghana’s para-athletes are rising. All they ask is that the nation rise with them—with support, structure, and visibility.
Because beyond the missing limbs is something whole: heart.
And heart is what builds champions.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
