GOC President Richard Kofi Akpokavie Commends Golden Shuttlers After Egypt Medal Success
Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President Richard Kofi Akpokavie has commended Ghana’s Golden Shuttlers for their achievements at the All Africa U-19 Badminton Championships and the 2026 BWF World Junior Championships in Egypt.
The U-19 national team and representatives of the Ghana Badminton, led by its president, Evans Yeboah, paid a courtesy visit to the GOC president to present their achievements and discuss opportunities for further development.
Presenting the team’s performance, Evans Yeboah said Ghana won a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the African championships, narrowly missing out on the title to Algeria by one point in a 55–54 contest. The team also secured a silver medal in women’s doubles through Moslena Ama Korama Adu and Racheal Quarcoo, alongside bronze medals in mixed doubles and other individual events.
At the World Junior Championships, Ghana earned the Team Cheers Award (Gold) after being shortlisted among the top three nations alongside Germany and the Philippines, becoming the first African country to win the accolade, according to the association.
Evans Yeboah also highlighted improvements in the players’ world rankings, educational and training opportunities, and Ghana’s growing presence in African badminton. He noted that the women’s doubles pair had risen to 113th in the world and second in Africa, while Ghana continued to maintain its standing in African men’s singles.
GOC President Richard Akpokavie encouraged the young players to build on their achievements and prepare for senior-level competition.
“This is only the U-19 stage; you must be aiming at senior level,” he said, stressing the importance of gaining international experience, learning new skills and maintaining steady progress.
He added that the GOC would explore opportunities to send promising players to badminton powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, India and Malaysia for specialised training through potential partnerships with their Olympic committees.
The GOC president also urged the athletes to balance their sporting ambitions with education.
“Don’t think you’re choosing one against the other. You’re choosing both education and the sports,” he said, noting that sports and education could complement each other in building successful futures.
Akpokavie congratulated the Ghana Badminton Association for its investment in the players and expressed hope that the team would continue to excel in future competitions. He also encouraged the squad to support its representative preparing for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
The Ghanaian squad included Francis Obeng-Shang, Obabompa Adu-Mintah, Samuel Kotey Amasah, Racheal Quarcoo, Moslena Ama Korama Adu, Margaret Amioko Sarpei and Alana Faith Sullo.
The visit highlighted the progress of Ghana’s junior badminton programme and the importance of sustained investment, international exposure and educational development in preparing young athletes for the highest level of competition.