Accra, Ghana – May 2026 – The Borteyman Sports Stadium in Accra buzzed with youthful energy as the Ghana Interschool Festival successfully concluded its second season, showcasing emerging sporting talents from international schools across the capital. The U12 championship featured football, athletics, basketball, and arts, highlighting impressive skills and competitive spirit among young athletes.
A Growing Platform for Young Talent
The Ghana Interschool Festival (GIF) has rapidly established itself as a significant event in the nation’s youth sports calendar. Season 2, held in May 2026, brought together numerous international schools, fostering a competitive environment for students aged 12 and under. The festival aims to identify and nurture promising young athletes, providing them with a platform to hone their skills.
The growing stature of the GIF is evident in its ability to develop athletes who go on to represent Ghana on larger stages. Notably, participants from previous editions, including Dawutey Bryan, Dedzo Franciszek, and Lea El Haj, competed for Ghana at the 2026 Africa Aquatics Championships in Algeria, demonstrating the festival’s role in identifying future national stars.
Athletics Domination and Standout Performances
Athletics emerged as a major highlight of the festival, with North Legon Little Campus asserting its dominance. The school secured the overall championship title for the GIF 2026 Season 2 Athletics Championship, excelling in multiple sprint and relay events.
Individual brilliance was on full display. Arianna Awurabena Afrankomah Appiedu from North Legon Little Campus captured gold in the Girls 50m final, clocking an impressive 9.81 seconds. Teammate Papa Kofi Nyameye Sam-Inkoom powered to victory in the Boys 100m final (G4-6), finishing with a time of 14.06 seconds.
Other schools also celebrated athletic achievements. Soul Clinic International School saw Toby Assumini win the Boys 100m final (G1-3), while Adel Belko clinched the Boys 50m final (KG) for the same institution.
Football and Basketball Champions Crowned
In football, Brainy Bairn School demonstrated remarkable prowess, clinching championships in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. Sauda Afiba Dramani Payida earned the top scorer award in the girls’ category, and Samuel Nwobi was recognized as the Best Goalkeeper in the boys’ division. Kay-Billie-Klaer International School’s Jayda Akweley Armah was awarded Best Player for the girls’ football tournament.
The basketball courts provided equally thrilling contests. Soul Clinic International School emerged as the champions in the boys’ division, outperforming GIU International Christian Academy and Galaxy International School. Nii Djan Dodoo of Soul Clinic was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his exceptional performances.
Galaxy International School secured the girls’ basketball title, with Soul Clinic International School finishing as runners-up. Abena Amoah Osei Addae from Galaxy International School was honored as the MVP in the girls’ category.
Vision for Future Sports Development
Daniel Benneh, an official from the Ghana Interschool Festival, articulated the core vision behind the initiative. “Our main focus for this event was on the U12 category. We want to create a strong succession system for schools and teams to develop young talents and help them flourish,” Benneh stated.
He described the festival as a “Junior Olympics” and the first of its kind in Ghana, encompassing disciplines such as basketball, volleyball, football, table tennis, badminton, swimming, and athletics. “We believe there is a need for this to help shape the future of sports in Ghana,” he added, emphasizing the long-term goal of fostering sports development nationwide.
Looking Ahead
The success of Season 2 has set a high bar for the festival’s future. The next edition is scheduled for November of this year, promising another opportunity for young athletes to shine and for the GIF to continue its mission of building a robust pipeline of talent for Ghanaian sports.
Leave a Reply