For the first time Ghana entered five sports disciplines- athletics, boxing, badminton, judo and weightlifting but won only one medal, a bronze by young Margaret Simpson in the heptathlon with a total of 5906 points.

Margaret Simpson was the brightest spot in the athletics squad of five – three men and two women. The other woman athlete, Vida Anim placed 6th in the 100m heats in 12.27 secs but later fell out because of thigh injury.

Detailed results of Margaret Simpson’s performance are

• 100m                1st          13.81 secs                1005pts
• High jump      2nd       1.80m                         978pts
• Shot putt         7th        11.10m                        602pts
• 200m                4th        24.87 secs                   899pts
• Long jump      7th        5.80m                          789pts
• Javelin             2nd       48.00m                         821pts
• 800m               9th         2 min 20.85 secs        812pts

The best from the men were in the triple jump where Andrew Owusu placed 4th in the final with a leap of 16.84m and the 200m final where Aziz Zakari won fifth position in 20.29 secs which was his season’s best.

Earlier Aziz Zakari and Eric Nkansah had made it to the 100m semi-finals placing 5th in 10.17 secs and 6th in 10.29 secs respectively. Nkansah’s time was his season’s best.

The eight man boxing squad comprised flyweight Joseph Martey; bantamweight Jonathan Yartey;featherweight Thomas Aryeetey; lightweight King Abbey; light-welterweight Emmanuel  Lartei Lamptey; light-middleweight Thomas Awimbono; middleweight Ernest Amuzu and heavyweight Charles Quartey.

Apart from light-welterweight Lartei Lartey and light-middleweight Thomas Awimbono who won two fights apiece, the remaining six boxers all lost their first fights.Lartei Lartey defeated Jagon Naulle of Namibia and Michael Spirnger of Trinidad and Tobago before losing to Darren Barker of England.

Thomas Awimbono beat Anthony St Clair of Trinidad and Tobago and Alema Vaele of Samoa but lost his third fight to Paul smith of England.

Results of the six who lost their fights;

• Thomas Aryeetey lost to Jonathan Mwinla of Zambia
• Bantamweight Jonathan Yartey lost to Justin Kane of Australia
• Lightweight King Abbey lost to Koloba Sehloho of Lesotho
• Middleweight Ernest Amuzu lost to Murtala Abdulsalam of Nigeria
• Heavyweight Charles Quartey lost to Kerston Manswell of Trinidad and Tobago
• Flyweight Joseph Martey lost to Laughey Darren of England.

BADMINTON
The badminton team was made up of Martin Owusu-Adu, Issa Mohammed, Ben Ayim Noah, Theresa Tetteh and Mary Manu. Drawn in Group C with Barbados, Botswana, Singapore and Wales. Ghana lost the entire team event as well as the individual series. Singapore beat Ghana 5-0, Barbados beat Ghana 5-0, Botswana beat Ghana 5-0 and Wales beat Ghana 5-0.

JUDO
The judo team comprised Alex Amoako 60kg; Emmanuel Nartey 66kg; Seth Ahiavor 73kg; David Buenor Agbugbuah 81kg; They were all beaten. Alex Amoako lost to Labrose Francis of Seychelles; Emmanuel Nartey was beaten by David Taylor of Scotland, David Agbugbuah lost to Slyfied Tim of New Zealand and Seth Ahiavor was beaten by Governor Jammi of Barbados.

WEIGHTLIFTING
Ghana entered two competitors- one man and a woman. In the men’s 105kg, Albert Abotsi placed 6th in both the snatch and clear and the jerk competition among eleven competitors.Ollennu Amorkor King placed 7th in the women’s 69kg category.