Giants of Africa has unveiled its 46th basketball court in Africa at the Michael Blackson Academy in Nsaba in Ghana’s Central Region.

The project, launched on Tuesday, March 10, was delivered in partnership with Ghanaian-American actor and comedian Michael Blackson as part of the organisation’s commitment to build 100 basketball courts across the continent.

The ceremony was attended by Giants of Africa co-founder and chief executive Masai Ujiri, Blackson and several community leaders.

The unveiling was followed by a youth basketball clinic for 50 boys and girls, led by local and international Giants of Africa coaches, aimed at nurturing young talent in the community.

Ujiri said the initiative goes beyond sport and is about bringing young people together and inspiring them to dream.

“It is a great honour and privilege for us to bring sports that can inspire these young people and bring them together, because sports offer something that nothing else does. It brings peace, it unifies people, and it is one of the most diplomatic tools in the world. Anywhere you hear about sports, people come together.”

Founder of the academy where the court is located, Michael Blankson, said the project means a lot to him as a way of giving back to his roots.

“Masai was a fan of my work and wanted to contribute by building a basketball court, and in less than a year we’ve built this masterpiece. It’s a great feeling, and I’m glad I was able to come back home and give back to the community. The most important thing is that we cannot forget where we came from.”

The project was executed by sports development firm Propeller Sports, whose chief executive, Jude Arthur, described the court as the first of several initiatives the group plans to undertake.

“This is the very first project we’ve built for Michael Blackson in collaboration with Masai Ujiri’s Giants of Africa,” he said.

“I’m very excited about the opening of this court; it’s been a long time coming. It has actually been a year since we started, and finally opening the court brings me so much excitement because now I know the kids have a bright future when it comes to playing basketball. Propeller Sports is looking to invest in community development projects, so within the next few months, you should expect more from us.”

Ujiri is the first African-born president of a professional sports franchise in North America’s National Basketball Association and led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019 — the first time a team outside the United States had won the title.

Founded in 2003, Giants of Africa uses basketball as a platform to educate and empower young people across the continent. The organisation has hosted camps and clinics in 20 African countries and launched its ‘Built Within’ initiative in 2021 to construct 100 basketball courts, with 46 now completed across Africa.