Badminton Is For Everyone – Ghana Badminton And Special Olympics Sign Landmark MOU Amid Calls For Inclusion
The Dome at the Borteyman Sports Complex was filled with applause, solidarity messages, and a shared sense of purpose on Monday as the Ghana Badminton Association and Special Olympics Ghana signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding to expand inclusive badminton across the country.
The ceremony was more than just a signing. It was a gathering of sports leaders, Ghana Olympic Committee board members, and disability advocates who spoke with one clear message: badminton must be for everyone.
Yeboah: “This is about inclusion and institutional support”
Setting the tone for the day, Mr. Evans Yeboah, President of the Ghana Badminton Association, said the partnership goes beyond rackets and shuttlecocks. It is about breaking barriers.
“Today marks a new chapter for badminton in Ghana. We are making a deliberate decision that our sport will reach every community, every school, every gender, and every ability group,” Mr. Yeboah stated.
He stressed that for the initiative to succeed, there must be collaboration between schools, government, and sports bodies.
“We need institutional support. We need teachers trained, coaches certified, and facilities made available. When we invest in inclusion, we invest in the future of Ghanaian sport,” he added.
Mr. Yeboah noted that the MOU aligns with Badminton Ghana’s long-term goal of growing participation from the grassroots to the elite level.
Dr. Owusu: “This MOU will create real opportunities”*
The Secretary-General of Special Olympics Ghana, Dr. Ebenezer Owusu, delivered a passionate address on what the agreement means for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
He revealed that about 4% of Ghanaians live with intellectual disabilities, and many have been left out of organized sports for too long.
“This Memorandum is a promise. A promise that our athletes will get technical education, proper coaching, and the chance to wear the Ghana jersey on the world stage,” Dr. Owusu said.
He explained that the partnership will focus on training, athlete development, and preparing a national team for the Special Olympics World Games next year.
“Our vision is simple. Every athlete, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to develop skills, build confidence, and compete with dignity. Sport is a tool for empowerment, and today we are using it,” he said.
Dr. Owusu thanked the Ghana Badminton Association for taking the lead and called on other federations to follow suit.
The event also featured solidarity messages from key stakeholders across the sports fraternity. Representatives present included:
- Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA)
- Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC)
- Special Olympics International (SO International)
Speakers commended both organizations for the bold step and pledged implementation support.
Mr. Kamal Sulley, Board Member of the Ghana Olympic Committee, described the MOU as “a model for how sports federations and disability organizations can work together to achieve national development goals.”
He added that the partnership reflects the Olympic and Paralympic values of equality and respect, and is important for Ghana’s broader sports agenda.
A representative from the BCA noted that Africa is watching Ghana, and that the success of this program could inspire similar partnerships across the continent.
Under the agreement, both organizations will:
- Train and certify teachers as badminton coaches for schools and communities
- Provide technical education to Special Olympics athletes and coaches
- Develop athletes with intellectual disabilities and form a national team
- Prepare Team Ghana for the Special Olympics World Games next year
The program also ties into the global BWF–SOI Global Badminton Development Strategy 2026–2031, which aims to grow inclusive badminton worldwide.
In his Closing Remarks, the host expressed appreciation to all partners and reaffirmed the commitment to implement every clause of the MOU.
A new chapter
For many in attendance, the message was clear. This is not just about badminton. It is about dignity, opportunity, and representation.
As Mr. Yeboah put it: “When we say badminton is for all, we mean all”
And as Dr. Owusu added: “Today, we are giving our athletes more than a sport. We are giving them a future.”
With training programs and selection trials expected to begin in the coming months, Ghana’s journey toward inclusive sport has officially begun.
By Elizabeth A. Gyamfi