Team Ghana has received a significant financial boost ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the Eezzy Group Foundation donated GHS800,000 to support the nation’s preparations for the multi-sport event in Glasgow, Scotland.
The sponsorship, one of the biggest private sector contributions towards Ghana’s Commonwealth Games campaign in recent years, was officially unveiled during a colourful ceremony at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
The event brought together government officials, sports administrators, athletes, corporate executives and other stakeholders under the theme “Inspiring Champions for National Pride.”
The donation comes at a crucial stage of Team Ghana’s preparations, with less than three weeks before the Games begin on July 23. Athletes across the various disciplines are currently in intensive training camps as they fine-tune preparations for one of the biggest multi-sport competitions on the international calendar.
The financial support is expected to ease the burden associated with the team’s final preparations by providing resources for training, equipment, logistics, athlete welfare and other operational costs.
Raii urges athletes to make Ghana proud
Speaking after presenting the sponsorship package, Executive Chairman of the Eezzy Group, Mohammed Raii, challenged Team Ghana to compete with determination and ensure the country earns global recognition through their performances.
Raii said the Foundation’s decision to support Team Ghana was driven by a desire to contribute to national development through sports, while encouraging other corporate institutions to invest in Ghanaian athletes.
“I like things to be very easy. There are over 36 million Ghanaians and you have to make everybody proud. I want the whole world to talk about you first.
Mohammed Raii, Chairman of Eezzy Group with his family during the donation presentation
“When you come back as number one, I want other companies and other foundations to become jealous of Eezzy Group and also come and support you.”
He expressed hope that the Foundation’s intervention would become a benchmark for private sector participation in Ghanaian sports, insisting that elite athletes deserve sustained support if they are to compete successfully against the world’s best.
Government welcomes corporate support
Representing the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Betty Krosbi Mensah described the sponsorship as timely and significant, stressing that government alone cannot finance the country’s sporting ambitions.
She commended the Eezzy Group Foundation for answering the call to support Team Ghana and urged more companies to emulate the gesture.
“Today is a very important day for the people of Ghana, especially those of us at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
“As Team Ghana prepares for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, government alone cannot bear the cost. We have been looking for support from individuals and corporate Ghana.
Ms. Betty Krosbi Mensah
“Today we are happy to receive this support from the Eezzy Group Foundation and we want to use this opportunity to call on other corporate organisations to come on board and support Team Ghana.”
According to her, greater private sector involvement will not only improve athlete preparation but also help develop sports across the country by reducing Ghana’s dependence on government funding.
Team Ghana ready for Glasgow
Chef de Mission Ernest Danso assured stakeholders that Team Ghana is adequately prepared and ready to compete against the best athletes from across the Commonwealth.
He revealed that Ghana will compete in nine of the ten sporting disciplines featured at the Glasgow Games.
“The disciplines for these Games are ten, and Ghana is competing in nine of them.
“We have athletics, judo, boxing, swimming, cycling, weightlifting, para swimming, para athletics and para powerlifting.
“I know these athletes have prepared well enough for these Games.”
Danso also disclosed that while some of the athletes remain in Ghana completing their final preparations, others, particularly members of the boxing team, are expected to continue training abroad before joining the rest of the contingent.
Forty athletes to represent Ghana
Ghana will travel to Glasgow with a 40-member athlete contingent, featuring a blend of experienced competitors and promising young talents across nine disciplines.
The team comprises:
Athletics – 13 athletes
Boxing – 10 athletes
Swimming – 4 athletes
Judo – 2 athletes
Track Cycling – 2 athletes
Weightlifting – 1 athlete
Para Athletics – 3 athletes
Para Swimming – 1 athlete
Para Powerlifting – 1 athlete
Officials believe the balanced squad provides Ghana with a realistic opportunity to compete for medals while showcasing the country’s growing strength across multiple sporting disciplines.
Samson Deen highlights Paralympic progress
President of the Ghana Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen, whose federation accounts for the largest representation within Team Ghana’s delegation, reflected on the transformation of para sports in the country.
According to him, the respect now enjoyed by Ghana’s Paralympic movement is the result of years of reforms aimed at changing public perception and strengthening institutional structures.
Samson Deen. Ghana and Africa Paralympics President
“Those who disagreed with me now agree that what I was saying was right.
“People used to think Paralympians were beggars. I said no. If I am there, you cannot beg on radio. You cannot write individual letters asking for support.
“Today, when we write to institutions, they respect us because they see a whole organisation and not individuals.”
He added that building strong governance structures has been instrumental in attracting support for para sports and creating equal opportunities for athletes with disabilities.
Corporate Ghana’s growing role
The Eezzy Group Foundation’s investment also reflects the increasingly important role being played by the private sector in Ghana’s sporting landscape.
With the cost of preparing national teams for international competitions continuing to rise, partnerships between corporate institutions and sports federations are becoming increasingly vital to ensuring athletes receive adequate preparation.
Stakeholders at the ceremony praised the Foundation for demonstrating confidence in Ghanaian athletes and expressed hope that the donation would encourage more businesses to invest in sports development.
For Team Ghana, the support arrives at an important moment as attention shifts fully to the final phase of preparations.
With training camps entering their concluding stages and morale boosted by the financial backing, the athletes will now focus on delivering strong performances when the 2026 Commonwealth Games begin in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, where they will compete against some of the finest athletes from across the Commonwealth in pursuit of medals and national pride.
