The Queen’s Baton Relay was in full swing in Accra and Tema yesterday defying the rains as top personalities participated in the colourful event aimed at creating awareness ahead of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The journey across the principal streets of Accra began at the British Council, through to the Liberation Road (AkoAdjei Interchange), Opeibea House Traffic Light, the Stanbic Heights area, the Airport Bypass Road and continues to the Giffard Road and ended at Elwak for the first leg in Accra.
The run continued at Tema VALCO Roundabout and moved through Harbour Road and ended at the Tema Fishing Harbour with fisher folks also having the opportunity to hold the baton.
The President of the Commonwealth Games Association (CGAG) Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, started the run in Accra and handed over the relay to the British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson and other officials of the British Council, then to Ghanaian cyclist Abdul Rahman and later received by the Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof Peter Twumasi.
Other dignitaries who participated in the symbolic run included Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the African Games Dr Kweku Ofosu Asare, para athlete Rapheal Botsio Nkegbe, Marketing Manager at Promasidor Shine Akiem Torsoo, who received the baton from the Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo-Dampare and handed over to MTN Chief Executive Officer, Mr Selorm Adadevoh.
The likes of former Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan, artiste Kofi Kinaata, President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG),Kwabena Yeboah, Olympic bronze medalist, Samuel Takyi and other athletes were part of the run.
In all, over 100 personalities including politicians, celebrities and other important persons participated in the relay in Accra and Tema.
The baton will be in Kumasi in the Ashanti region, starting from the Manhyia Palace where the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu would give a majestic touch to the event.
According to Mr Nunoo Mensah, yesterday’s event was successful as participants defied the showers and kept the momentum till the end.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
