The Accra Marathon (which later became the Accra Milo Marathon) was introduced by the Dansoman Keep Fit Club led by the late Carl Reindorf, former Deputy Minister of Information in the 2nd Republic, the late Sam Nelson (then Deputy Secretary of Youth & Sports under the PNDC government), Nii Ayikai Adjin-Tettey (then retired administrator of the National Sports Council), and 14 other members. Of course, female athletes and U-15 boys (15km) were not left out of the carnival.Īll other things being equal, the trigger might soon be pulled to get anxious athletes such as William Amponsah and other long-distance runners off the blocks to restore old memories and relive their dreams. The general appeal aside, the annual affair offered handsome cash prizes, products from sponsors and running shoes for the deserving winners. Malik Yakubu is on record to have won the thrilling last edition in 2016, graced by the then Youth and Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye.Īpart from the Amsterdam Marathon, male champions Adongo, Alhassan, Amo, Adukpo, and Zigah, as well as female champions such as Millicent Boadi and Gladys Adomah, for instance, represented the nation in some international marathon competitions in the US, Europe and other parts of the world as well. The five subsequent editions were shared between Adongo and Amo, before Alhassan, Zigah, Adukpo, Manu and the rest could also cut a slice of history in later years. Interestingly, most of the winners belonged to the security services, creating a healthy rivalry among them prior to the annual Security Services Sports Association (SESSA) Games at the time.Īmegashie, a police officer, made history as the first winner of the Accra Milo Marathon in 1987, before Adongo burst onto the scene the following year. Gone are the days when household names such as Fred Adongo and Alhaji Alhassan, Alfred Amegashie, Emmanuel Amo, Stephen Manu, David Zigah, Anthony Yin, and Godwin Adukpo, among others, made the 42.2km race tick. While one school of thought prescribed the revival of athletics in senior high schools to unearth and groom more talents for the future, another believed the revival of a high-profile competition such as the Milo Marathon could unveil some talents for the various long and middle-distance events. The setback spontaneously set tongues wagging again over yet another heartbreak in a major international competition as athletics enthusiasts sought a solution to curb the disturbing trend. The list also included members of the diplomatic corps of the various embassies and the American Peace Corps working in the sub-region. ![]() ![]() To say the Accra Milo Marathon had a rich history is an understatement as it became so popular to the extent of attracting runners from across Africa, including Eritrea, Uganda, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Nigeria and Mauritania, as well as Europe. ![]() The banking sector, oil and gas firms such as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Tullow Oil Plc, betting companies and other investors can easily step in to keep the dream alive and cut a slice of history as well. In the interim, a huge vacuum has been created for potential sponsors to fill as soon as possible to save Ghana athletics from dying prematurely. However, there is still room for a possible comeback anytime the multi-national business entity decides to renew its longstanding romance with the Accra Milo Marathon, whose champions featured prominently in the renowned Amsterdam Marathon in Holland back-to-back under the auspices of the Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM). The hitherto enthusiastic Nestle Ghana Limited, producers of Milo beverage, sank so much into the organisation of the event for years but now seems to have a new policy direction quite different from sports promotion, hence the sudden adamancy.
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