The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially announced the departure of Jerry Afriyie from the camp of the Black Satellites to return to his club base in Spain.

 This development is in line with a prior arrangement between the GFA and the player’s club, which had indicated that they would require his return following Ghana’s first two matches in the ongoing tournament.

The Association had to rely on such an arrangement because the tournament is being played outside the FIFA window for release of players.

Jerry Afriyie made a significant contribution to the team during our opening fixtures, playing a key role in securing valuable points that have positioned the Black Satellites strongly in the quest for qualification. 

While the technical team and management would have preferred to retain his services for the entirety of the competition, the GFA remains committed to honouring all arrangements with clubs in the spirit of mutual respect, cooperation and professionalism.

“We are confident that the remaining members of the squad will build on the foundation laid in the first two matches and continue to push toward our collective objective of success in the tournament,” the statement added.

The GFA has taken this opportunity to express their heartfelt appreciation to Jerry Afriyie for his dedication and service during his time with the national team, and wished him continued success at his club.

“We also thank Ghanaians at home and abroad for the unwavering support shown to the Black Satellites and urge all to continue rallying behind the team as we pursue continental glory,” the statement concluded.

 The immediate past Presi­dent of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, on Tuesday officially handed over to the new administration led by Mr Richard Akpokavie.

At a short symbolic ceremo­ny held at the Olympic House, GOC’s offices in Accra, Mr Nunoo Mensah handed over documents, keys and other items to the new administration to officially mark the end of his tenure.

Supported by some of his members, including Mr Frederick Acheampong, the immediate past Treasurer of the Committee, Mr Nunoo Mensah documents cover­ing transaction and project to the new administration and welcomed them into office.

He was also full of gratitude to the members he worked with and urged the new team to work to­gether in order to improve Ghana sports with special interest on the completion of the OlympAfrica Project at Amasaman.

Also supported by his Treasur­er, Evans Yeboah, and General Secretary, Mohammed Muniru, Mr Akpokavie, the newly elected president, thanked the old team for the cooperation and pledged to work with all to better the lot for Ghana football.

“We’ll work diligently to main­tain and improve legacies present­ed to us. All we want is the support from the board, the federations and media to place Ghana Sports and the GOC where it rightly belongs,” Mr Akopkabie said.

Mr Mohammed Muniru, the new Secretary General, thanked Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah and his administration for their marvelous service and stated that the doors of the GOC are always opened for him to offer ideas and contri­butions to raise and promote the GOC and Ghana Sports.

Also in attendance were Mr Isaac Duah, former Assistant Trea­surer, Mawuko Afadzinu, 1st Vice President, Ernest Danso, 3rd Vice President, Baba Fuseini, Deputy Secretary General, Nii Lante Ban­nerman, Assistant Treasurer and Kamal Sulley, new Board Member. -GOC Communications

 Absa Bank Ghana Limited, in collaboration with the Black Star Marathon Foundation, have launched the 2025 Absa Black Star Marathon.

The event for elite athletes and amateur runners is under the theme: ‘Your Story Matters,’ and is expected to start and finish at the Independence Square on Saturday, July 26.

In its second year, the Black Star Marathon will feature a range of long-distance running events, including the standard 42.2 km event for men and women, a 10 km mass run for all, and a wheel­chair marathon.

According to the organisers, the marathon route is designed to highlight Accra’s landmarks, weaving through the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods to create a festive atmosphere for runners and spec­tators.

In his speech, the founder of the marathon, Dr Eric Kwame Adae, said the Absa Black Star Marathon was a race born from passion, purpose, and the unstoppable power of stories, saying that, “It isn’t just another marathon; it is a celebration of a movement and a statement.”

“The Absa Black Star Marathon is a call to come together not just to run and cross a finish line, but to honour every victory, struggle, comeback, and heartbeat that re­fuses to quit. It is a celebration of unflinching resilience, meaningful connection, and inspiration,” he added.

According to him, the mission was to further empower Gha­naians through exciting running programmes, foster a culture of health and well-being, and create a pipeline for future long-distance champions for Ghana.

On her part, the Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Absa Bank Ghana Limited, Nana Essilfuah Tamakloe, noted that sports has a unique ability to unite people from all walks of life around a shared purpose, and as a purpose-driven organisation, Absa Bank was deeply committed to empowering and fostering inclusive growth in people, from investing in and uplifting communities to contributing meaningfully to their remarkable journeys and stories.

“As a brand, we are committed to championing personal growth and national progress. That’s why we are investing not just for today, but for the future with a commit­ment to headline sponsorship to support this incredible platform,” she said.

“Together with the Black Star Marathon Foundation, we will bring stories of hope, health, and heroism to the forefront, amplify­ing voices and journeys that inspire us all while not only celebrating physical endurance, excellence, and resilience but also investing in the health and well-being of our lives, because it matters,” she added.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) Prof. Kob­by Mensah, pledged his outfit’s support for the event, announcing plans for a sports parade, featuring athletes on a double-decker bus. “We’ll showcase Accra like never before, making this one of the world’s premier marathons,” he indicated.