Ghana Unveils Para Team for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Ghana has unveiled a five-athlete para team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with officials expressing confidence the squad can compete for medals while advancing the profile of disability sport nationwide.

Members of Ghana's para team pose with officials during the launch of the country's Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign. — Ghana para athletes and National Paralympic Committee officials during the Glasgow 2026 team unveiling ceremony.

ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana has unveiled a five-athlete para team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with National Paralympic Committee (NPC) President Samson Deen expressing confidence that the squad can challenge for medals while helping raise the profile of disability sport across the country.

The athletes will represent the Country in Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting and Para Swimming when the Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 28 July to 8 August 2026.

The team was officially introduced at a ceremony in Accra held under the theme “Rising Beyond Limits, Carrying the Dreams of a Nation”, marking the start of Ghana’s campaign for one of the world’s most prestigious multi-sport events.

The squad includes three-time Paralympian Botsyo Nkegbe, one of Ghana’s most accomplished para-athletes, alongside Zinabu Issah, Hayford Addai, Haruna Tahiru and Promise Aheto.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Deen said the athletes had earned the right to represent the country through merit, discipline and years of commitment to their respective sports. “These athletes are not merely participants. They are medal contenders,” he said. The NPC President described the occasion as more than a team announcement, calling it a statement of ambition, inclusion and national pride.

Team Ghana’s Glasgow Challenge

Officials believe the five-athlete team is among the strongest para contingents Ghana has assembled in recent years.

The athletes will compete across three disciplines:

Zinabu Issah – Women’s F57 Para Athletics
Botsyo Nkegbe – Men’s T54 Wheelchair Racing
Hayford Addai – Men’s T47 Para Athletics
Haruna Tahiru – Men’s 100kg+ Para Powerlifting
Promise Aheto – Para Swimming

According to the NPC, each athlete secured qualification through performance and competitive achievement, reflecting the steady growth of the para sports programme in the country.

For many observers, the inclusion of Nkegbe brings valuable international experience to the team. The veteran athlete has represented the country at multiple Paralympic Games and remains one of the country’s most recognisable figures in disability sport.

Beyond Medals

While the Glasgow Games remain the immediate objective, officials say the campaign is also intended to challenge perceptions about disability and promote greater inclusion in Ghanaian society. Deen reiterated his long-held position that para sport should not be viewed through the lens of charity but as a platform for excellence, opportunity and achievement.

“Disability is not inability,” he told participants at the ceremony. “Our athletes seek opportunity, inclusion and the chance to compete on equal terms.” That message has become increasingly central to the country’s para sports movement as athletes and administrators push for greater visibility, funding and support structures.

The NPC President urged government agencies, corporate organisations and the media to play a greater role in supporting athlete development, coaching, welfare and international exposure. “Supporting para sports is not charity. It is an investment in talent. It is an investment in inclusion. It is an investment in national development and future generations,” he said.

Building on Ghana’s Legacy

The unveiling ceremony also served as a reminder of how far Ghana’s para sports movement has progressed over the past two decades. Deen paid tribute to trailblazers who helped establish the country’s presence on the international stage, including Anita Fodjour, whose bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi remains one of the country’s most significant achievements in para competition.

That success continues to serve as a benchmark for a new generation of athletes seeking to make their mark at major international events. Although Ghana’s para sports programme remains relatively small compared with those of larger sporting nations, officials say recent progress demonstrates the potential for greater success with sustained investment and institutional support.

What Glasgow 2026 Means for the Country

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games represent more than another international competition. For the athletes selected, the event offers an opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best para athletes while showcasing Ghana’s growing strength in disability sport.

For administrators, it is a chance to demonstrate that investment in inclusion can produce tangible sporting results. And for Ghana, it provides another opportunity to celebrate athletes whose achievements continue to challenge assumptions and inspire future generations. As preparations intensify over the coming year, expectations will remain measured. But officials believe the team travelling to Glasgow has the potential not only to compete strongly but also to further elevate the status of para sport in Ghana.