BY ISSAH OLEGOR
Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games ended on a disappointing note, with only two athletes managing to reach the podium despite the country’s participation across several sporting disciplines.
Para-athlete Zinabu Issah and boxer Amadu Mohammed emerged as Ghana’s standout performers, winning the nation’s only medals at the Games while highlighting the country’s continued struggle to convert promising performances into podium finishes at major international competitions.
Although Team Ghana competed in athletics, boxing, swimming and other events, many athletes came agonisingly close to winning medals but ultimately fell short, leaving the country with just one silver and one bronze medal at the end of the competition.
The first breakthrough came from experienced para-athlete Zinabu Issah, who secured Ghana’s opening medal after producing a season-best throw of 8.65 metres to claim silver in the Women’s F57 Shot Put event.
The achievement added another milestone to Issah’s growing international career. Born on March 6, 1980, she specialises in throwing events and has become one of Ghana’s leading para-athletes on the international stage.
Her latest success follows her participation at the 2024 Paralympic Games, where she qualified to represent Ghana and had the honour of serving as the country’s flag bearer during the Opening Ceremony. At the Paralympics, she competed in both the shot put and discus events, further establishing herself among Ghana’s elite para-sports athletes.
Following her silver medal triumph in Glasgow, Issah received a £2,000 cash reward from the President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana, Samson Deen, in recognition of her historic achievement and contribution to Ghanaian sport.
Ghana’s second and final medal came through talented boxer Amadu Mohammed, who captured bronze in the men’s 55kg boxing competition.
Mohammed entered the Commonwealth Games as the reigning African Games champion and was widely regarded as one of Ghana’s strongest medal prospects. He progressed impressively through the competition before his hopes of reaching the final were ended by Australia’s Dixon Jyy, who claimed a narrow 4-1 split decision victory in the semi-finals.
Despite missing out on the gold medal bout, Mohammed’s bronze ensured Ghana finished the Games with a second podium finish.
