Story By Kwame Larweh
Ghana’s table tennis team, the Black Loopers, delivered a stellar performance at the Festival of Table Tennis 2025, held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria. The festival encompassed the West Africa Regional Championship, WTT Contender, Africa Hopes Challenge, African Youth Championship, and Africa Youth Cup.
Simultaneously, a Ghanaian contingent made waves at the inaugural African Schools Games in Algiers, Algeria, showcasing the nation’s growing prowess in the sport under the visionary leadership of Mawuko Afadzinu, President of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA).West Africa Regional Championships: Women’s Team Secures BronzeIn the West Africa Regional Championships, Ghana’s men’s team, comprising Emmanuel Commey, James Marfo, Israel Aklie, and Michael Yeboah, faced tough competition from regional powerhouses like Nigeria and Togo. The women’s team, consisting of Cynthia Kwabi, Bernice Borley Borquaye, and Joanita Borteye, coached by Davis Senyo Ahiaba, clinched a bronze medal. Their standout performance came against Côte d’Ivoire in the quarterfinals, where precise serves and relentless rallies secured their advancement. This bronze earned the women’s team a coveted spot at the African Table Tennis Championship 2025, a testament to their growing skill and cohesion.Historic WTT Contender Semifinal for Commey and MarfoAt the WTT Contender Lagos 2025, Ghana’s Emmanuel Commey and James Marfo made history as the first Ghanaian duo to reach the semifinals of a World Table Tennis (WTT) championship. Facing Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, a former African champion, and Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw in earlier rounds, the pair displayed remarkable synergy and resilience. Their semifinal run, though halted by a formidable Egyptian duo, marked a significant milestone for Ghanaian table tennis on the global stage.Israel Aklie’s Meteoric Rise in Africa Hopes ChallengeIn the Africa Hopes Challenge, 2024 SWAG Table Tennis Player of the Year Israel Aklie continued his ascent, securing a bronze medal. Aklie’s performance against Nigeria’s rising star Matthew Kuti was a highlight, with his quick reflexes and strategic play earning him the podium finish. This bronze adds to his gold from the inaugural 2024 Africa Hopes Challenge. Aklie’s excellence earned him a selection by the African Table Tennis Federation to represent the continent at the World Hopes Challenge in Sheffield, England, in October 2025.Aklie’s dominance extended to the African Youth Championship, where he led Ghana to two bronze medals in the Under-15 Boys’ team event alongside Hamza Issah and Prince Aklie. The trio outmaneuvered teams from Benin and Burkina Faso. In the Under-15 Boys’ doubles, Israel and his brother Prince Aklie secured another bronze, overcoming a challenging Tunisian pair with their synchronized play.African Schools Games: Michael Agyapong Mensah ShinesAt the African Schools Games in Algiers, Ghana’s Michael Agyapong Mensah, Michael Yeboah, and Esi Abaidoo represented the nation. Mensah clinched a bronze in the boys’ singles, outlasting Algeria’s Yacine Bouzou in a gripping match. His achievement highlighted Ghana’s depth of talent across age groups.Mawuko Afadzinu’s Pivotal RoleThe Black Loopers’ successes are a direct result of the strategic vision and dedication of GTTA President Mawuko Afadzinu. Since taking the helm, Afadzinu has prioritized grassroots development, securing funding for training camps, international exposure, and state-of-the-art equipment. His initiatives, including partnerships with schools and regional federations, have unearthed talents like Israel Aklie and Michael Agyapong Mensah. Afadzinu’s advocacy for increased participation in global tournaments has elevated Ghana’s profile, with the GTTA now boasting a robust pipeline of players ready to compete on the world stage. “Our goal is to make Ghana a table tennis powerhouse in Africa,” Afadzinu said, crediting the players’ hard work and the support of coaches like Davis Senyo Ahiaba.Looking AheadWith Israel Aklie set to compete in Sheffield and the women’s team preparing for the African Table Tennis Championship, Ghana’s Black Loopers are poised for greater achievements. Under Afadzinu’s leadership, the GTTA continues to foster a culture of excellence, ensuring that Ghana’s table tennis stars shine brighter with each tournament.
