The gallant men and women from Adawso emerged champions of the first watersport competition, the Kwahu Republic Canoe Racing competition held at Kwahu Adawso in the Eastern Region.

They took a cash prize of GH₵5,000 plus complimentary gifts.

Bonkrase won GH₵4,000 for placing second while Tokrom community who placed third, took home GH₵2,500.

Gadokorpe and Kwame Dwamena communities both received GH₵1,000 each plus complimentary gifts for coming fourth and fifth respectively.

The programme held on Sunday, September 29 and organised by Kwahu Republic, was a contest in canoe racing, tug-of-peace, swimming and canoe freestyle display.

“The concept of the Kwahu Republic Canoe Racing has been conceived to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for talents to be groomed into developing and appreciating their potential in some lesser-known sports as canoe racing, swimming, tug-of-peace, etc. This is going to be an annual event powered by Kwahu Republic," a statement from the company emphasised.

The programme, also aimed at developing an alternative to the paragliding attraction Kwahu is noted for in Ghana, was graced by dignitaries, state officials and locals from the four Assemblies – Afram Plains North and South as well as Kwahu East and West.

Groupings

In this maiden edition, 20 communities along the Afram Plains and Volta Lake in the Kwahu area were grouped into four Districts.

Each district had approximately five communities contest for the first round. The second round of canoe racing saw the first two in each group competing for the first to fifth position. The cumulative score of each community in swimming, tug-of-peace, canoe sprint determined the eventual winners.

In his remarks, the Business Manager of Kwahu Republic, Mr. Frank Danchie noted that: "This Canoe racing is a perfect recipe for the creative infusion of fun and excitement into the sport and it signals the arrival of a new dawn in water sports not only in Ghana but Africa as a whole.”

“Today’s event has expectedly been refreshing and we are most grateful to the communities and all our partners who helped this dream to take off,” Danchie added.