Olympian Peter Danvoru and Favour Ayiglo Victorious in Duku Festival Para Cycling Race
Source:Â http://www.richportaltv.com
The 2nd Edition of the Duku Festival Road Cycling Race Prelude took place on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at the Osu Castle Total Filling Station in Accra, Ghana. Organized by the Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) and sponsored by Dot Ateliers, the event emphasized inclusivity and excellence in sports, particularly for para-athletes.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Cycling Federation, Mr. Shaaban Mohammed, highlighted the significance of the event. “Mr. Amoako has been helping the para-athletes. Our aim is the LA 2028 Olympic Games, and if we groom our athletes well, we will win a medal in the Paralympic Games,” he stated. He also expressed profound gratitude to the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, and his sports committee for their proactive approach toward preparing Ghana to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Starting the year with a race dedicated to paracyclists, Mr. Mohammed declared, “This is a very good start, and we hope for more events in the coming months. We will organize 56 cycling events in Ghana this year.” He extended special thanks to the event organizers and Amoako Boafo, a prominent Ghanaian artist, for their support in making the event successful.
Observations and Future Aspirations
The project coordinator of the Duku Cycling Race, Mr. Justice Awuku, praised the turnout and described the event as a significant step toward inclusion. “Always, cycling is being organized for the regular guys, and we noticed that people with physical challenges have been marginalized. So there is the need for us to do something for them,” remarked Mr. Awuku, another key figure in the event. He added, “This is the first time I’ve seen a blind person riding a bicycle, and it’s amazing. We plan to make it even bigger in the coming years.”
Highlights from the Race
In the male tandem category of the 42.5-kilometer race, Ghanaian Olympian Peter Dery Danvoru and Benjamin Boahen Agyemang, who represented Ghana at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, emerged victorious with a time of 2:02.39. Second place was secured by Emmanuel and George, finishing in 2:18.24, while Frederick Assor and Philip Randolf claimed third place with a time of 2:19:25 seconds.
In the women’s tandem category, the pair of Favour Ayiglo and Abigail A. Tetteh claimed first place with a time of 1:08.02 seconds. Beauty Fiator and Majorie Quaye followed closely, finishing second in 1:09.45 seconds.
The amputee category featured fierce competition. Richard Yaw Atta emerged as the overall winner with a time of 2:08.04 seconds. Ebenezer Mensah Adjei took second place with a time of 2:11:45 seconds, while Kingsley Ofori settled for third place with a time of 2:15.00 seconds in the 42.5-kilometer race.
In the male-hand cycling category, Frank Yaw Fuji was the sole competitor. Despite this, his determination and enthusiasm stood out as he completed the race in 1:10.12 seconds, earning a gold medal.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Mr. Shaaban Mohammed emphasized the challenges faced by para-athletes, particularly the lack of specialized training equipment such as bicycles. He reiterated that the LA 2028 Paralympic Games remain a major priority for the Ghana Cycling Federation, with aspirations of making a podium finish. This dream drives the Federation’s commitment to events like the Duku Festival Road Cycling Race, which serves as a platform to identify and nurture exceptional talent for global competitions.
The event’s success highlighted the resilience and potential of Ghanaian para-athletes and underscored the importance of fostering opportunities for all athletes, regardless of physical ability. The Ghana Cycling Federation looks forward to scaling new heights in the years to come.
Awards
Male Tandem
- Peter Dery Danvoru and Benjamin Boahen Agyemang – 2 gold medals and GHc 3000
- Emmanuel and George – 2 silver medals and GHc 2000
- Frederick Assor and Philip Randolf – 2 bronze medals and GHc 1000
Female Tandem
- Favour Ayiglo and Abigail A. Tetteh – 2 gold medals and GHc 3000
- Beauty Fiator and Majorie Quaye – 2 silver and 2000
Male Amputee
- Richard Yaw Atta – Gold medal and GHc 3000
- Ebenezer Mensah Adjei – Silver medal and GHc 2000
- Kingsley Ofori – Bronze medal and Ghc 1000
Male Hand Cycling
- Frank Yaw Fuji – Gold Medal and GHc 1000