Hosts Ghana were the toast of fans as they romped to an unstoppable medal grabbing spree when the first ever Combat Ju Jutsu Open Africa championships belled off to a resounding success in Accra over the weekend.
Parading a host of budding stars, most of who were nurtured and trained in the various regional tournaments staged across the country in the past five years since the sport started taking roots, Team Ghana swept a total of 39 medals comprising 13 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze at the end of the 2-day competition.
Presentation of medals and certificates to winners by Ambassador of Peru to Ghana, His Excellency Anel Cardenas
The first of it’s kind to be held on the African continent and fully sanctioned by the International Combat Ju Jutsu Federation (CJJIF), Nigeria came second with 3 gold medals, 2 silver and 1bronze to bring their tally to 6.
Germany, the only non-African team did not leave without keeping their pride intact as they bagged three medals in sum following a gold, a silver and a bronze feats at the D.G. Hathiramani Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium in the heart of the Ghanaian capital with the Ambassador of Peru, His Excellency Abel Cardenas among the special guests.
Ghana Ju Jutsu Vice President, Evans Bernie-Johnson presents prize to female winners, both from Nigeria
Aside a total of 15 officiating personnel who were presented with certificates, all winning athletes received medals, certificates and for the ultimate in each category, products from the Electroland Ghana Limited sponsors, much to the satisfaction of the organisers.
“I’m very happy with the participation and competiton. Even our global president said that their first competition when they started featured just one country but we have two more countries, Nigeria and Germany join Ghana so we are very happy for hosting a very successful tournament,” said Evans Bernie-Johnson, Vice President of Ghana Ju Jutsu Federation.
“For the medal count, Ghana is way ahead. You know we are the pacesetters in Africa and gradually ju jutsu is growing. You can see the numbers from our previous events have quadrupled and day by day more people are getting to understand the game and are putting resources to get on board,” Mr. Bernie-Johnson continued.
Some of the winners on the podium at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Open Africa Combat Ju Jutsu Championships in Accra, Ghana
“We are extremely grateful to Electroland Ghana Limited, dealers in NASCO and Samsung products. They have done marvelously well because if not for them, we couldn’t have given out these electronics items to them. We have put smiles on their faces,” he added.
In the event, Ejeba Abdul Rahman of Nigeria came tops in the close contact 100kg category, beating Felix Amoo Jnr of Ghana into second spot whilst Martin Opitz of Germany scooped the bronze.
Coach Daniel Earll, Coach of Team Ghana with some officials
In the full contact 90 kg division, Ghana’s highly decorated combat fighter, Jonathan Euro went home the winner after beating Christian Eziora of Nigeria in the final. Third place went to Bill Emmanuel of Ghana.
The close contacf 75 kg category saw a clean sweep by Ghana as Hamza Mohammed took gold, Ishmael Lamptey the silver and Samuel Nii Oblie Ofoli Quaye finished third.
Another Ghanaian fighter, Isaac Commey topped the full contact 70 kg competiton, upstaging countryman Edmund Akator into the runner-up position as Nigeria’s Khalil Yussif took the bronze.
The 65 kg division saw another clean Ghanaian sweep as Simon Okine claimed gold, Prince Labbie annexed silver and bronze went to Enoch Abbey, same as Malik Adjei taking gold, Joshua Commey winning silver and Abraham Thompson the bronze in the 60 kg division.
In a further demonstration of their readiness for the future, Team Ghana also grabbed all three top spots in the junior males under 15 years’ category, Alhassan Ntiakum, Emmanuel Okyere and Kelvin Asamoah claiming the gold, silver and bronze in that order, very much what happened in the under 13s event where Nathaniel Osei, Prince Akakpo and Daniel Quaye finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Male Brazilian ju jutsu (BJJ) 60 kg event was won by Joshua Commey of Ghana with the silver medal going to his compatriot, Blessing Nii Ayi Quaye whilst Abdul Basit, Shato Mustapha and David Apoh took gold, silver and bronze in that order in the 65 kg division.
In the women’s competition, Lucy Ojebo became the first to win a gold medal for Nigeria by defeating Felix Amoelisa Vogt of Germany, with Ganga Alicia Anakina of Ghana taking the bronze.
Annilore Adusu, Jessica Okine and Priscilla Ofosua completed a Ghana top three in the females under 15 years division whilst Elisa Vogt of Germany won gold in the female BJJ 60 kg event for under 13s as Ganga Alicia Anakina took silver to complete her personal double.
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