Ghana’s 4x100m men’s relay team is celebrating a historic qualification to this year’s World Athletics Championships scheduled for Tokyo, Japan in September after running a season-best time of 38.32s in China on Sunday.
The quartet of Barnabas Aggerh, Joseph Paul Amoah, Mustapha Alufar Bokpin, and Ibrahim Fuseini – who run in that order – fnished second in their qualifying heat behind France (38.31s) at the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou Relays Day 2.
The Ghanaians had failed to seal an automatic slot in their first race back on Saturday as the quartet of Fuseini Ibrahim, Barnabas Agerh, Sean Sarfo Antwi and Mustapha Bokpin finished third behind Great Britain and Ireland and Poland in the heat in a time 38.49 seconds. It meant Ghana missed out on qualifying to the finals of the World Relays which saw South Africa stun the United States and Canada to win gold in the 4x100m on Sunday.
Ghana’s preliminary round time however earned them another shot at qualifying to September’s World Championship. And they took it with all hands, after replacing the experienced Sean Sarfo Antwi with national 200m record holder, John Paul Amoah.
Though Sunday’s race once again witnessed another baton change howler, Ibrahim Fuseini ran a tremendous final leg to propel Team Ghana to the second place finish to seal the country’s spot in Tokyo.
GOC President Akakpovie extols team
Meanwhile, the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) have hailed the 4×100 Relays team on the unique milestone, describing it as “remarkable” and “a testament to the sporting talents that abound in this country.” The GOC also urged other athletes and sportsmen to take a cue and emulate them.
“We recognise the hard work, discipline and dedication of the 4×100 relay team, and we encourage other Ghanaian athletes in other sports to learn from their example,” stated a congratulatory message signed by GOC President, Richard Akpokavie.
“It is our hope that this is just the beginning of many more accomplishments that will put Ghana in the medal zone of global competitions,” it added.
As Ghana celebrates this unique achievement, the Relays team will definitely have to undergo more baton change tutorials, which has for years remained an achiles heel for the country at several international competitions.
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