Ghana’s road to the 2028 Paralympic Games has officially begun. With ambition rising and belief growing, the country’s Para Powerlifting team has departed for Algeria carrying more than weights and equipment, they carry the hopes of a nation eager to make history on the global stage.
The African Open Para Powerlifting Championships in Oran may only last four days, but for Ghana, the journey means far more. The event marks the first major step in the qualification pathway toward the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, and the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana believes this could be the beginning of something special.
Leading the charge are Tahiru Haruna, Isaac Obeng, and debutant Isaac Nii Ayitey Tagoe. The trio head into the competition knowing every lift matters, not only for qualification points, but for the growing reputation of Ghanaian para sports across Africa.
There is already momentum behind this team. Ghana’s impressive second-place finish behind Nigeria at the recent West Africa Para Games showed how quickly the country is rising in the para sports landscape. Since 2025, Ghanaian para athletes have consistently returned home with medals, turning what was once a developing programme into a serious continental force.
At the centre of that transformation is NPC Ghana president Samson Deen. The entire trip to Algeria has been fully funded by Deen, whose investment in para sports continues to reshape opportunities for athletes with disabilities in Ghana.
“African athletes must end tourism and focus on mounting the podium anytime they travel for competitions,” Deen said before the team’s departure. His words reflect a wider change in mentality, one built around excellence rather than participation alone.
Deen also highlighted the lack of support many para athletes still face across the continent. “Zero financial support got us medals. Imagine what proper investment in para sports can do for Africa on the world stage,” he added.
Those comments carry weight beyond Ghana. Across Africa, para athletes often compete against difficult conditions, limited sponsorship, and poor infrastructure. Yet Ghana’s recent progress suggests that targeted investment and proper planning can change the story quickly.
The Algeria championship also offers a chance for younger athletes to gain experience against elite competition. Isaac Nii Ayitey Tagoe’s debut at a World Para Powerlifting sanctioned event is one example of Ghana building for the future, rather than focusing only on immediate results.
Behind the scenes, coach George Ohene-Adu and head of delegation Prince Nyarko will play key roles in guiding the athletes through the pressures of international competition. Medical officer Tilly Naa Adei Lutterodt also joins the delegation as Ghana aim to create a professional environment around the team.
There is already another major target on the horizon. Ghana has secured qualification spots for five athletes across Para Swimming, Para Athletics, and Para Powerlifting ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The country now dreams of winning its first-ever Commonwealth medal in para sports.
Preparations are already expanding beyond Africa. Samson Deen has promised international training camps in France and Azerbaijan as Ghana seek sharper technical levels and stronger mental preparation ahead of future competitions.
For now, though, all eyes turn to Oran. Every lift in Algeria represents more than competition. It represents progress, belief, and a nation daring to dream bigger than ever before.
