By Kwame Larweh
The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, promised to secure funding and improve training facilities for El Wak Wings, Ghana’s volleyball champions, during a visit from the team on April 10.
Led by manager Divine Edem Dotse, the club appealed for support to compete at the 2025 Men’s African Volleyball Club Championship in Misurata, Libya, starting April 17. “We are committed to all sporting disciplines, and the government will invest to create jobs and revenue,” Ankrah vowed. With just five days until their planned departure on April 15, the team faces a $35,000 shortfall that could ground their continental dreams.
Mr Dotse, the club’s founder and CEO, laid bare their readiness—and their need. “We are prepared to win gold in Libya, but we need financial support to get there and compete for Ghana,” he told Ankrah.
The visit to the NSA chief’s Accra office doubled as a celebration of their qualification and a desperate plea for help. Having outshone top clubs in the Greater Accra Men’s Volleyball League to earn their spot, El Wak Wings now stand as Ghana’s sole representatives at the prestigious tournament. “Our players, the backbone of the national team, deserve this exposure,” Dotse later told the Daily Graphic.
The 24-team championship, spanning April 17 to April 30, pits Africa’s volleyball elite against each other in a round-robin clash followed by knockout rounds. For El Wak Wings, it’s a shot at glory and a chance to hoist Ghana’s flag high. But the clock is unforgiving. The $35,000 needed for travel, accommodation, and logistics remains elusive, threatening to derail a journey that began with a stellar second-place league finish against well-resourced rivals, including security service teams.
Urgent talks are set for Wednesday, April 15, with new Youth and Sports Minister Kofi Adams and a follow-up with Ankrah. “We’re appealing to the Sports Minister to ensure we can represent Ghana,” Dotse said, testing Adams’ early resolve in his role. Beyond government, he’s urged corporate Ghana and the public to rally. “This is about talent and unity—help us seize it,” he pleaded. The team’s departure hinges on the outcome, with preparations in full swing but funds still out of reach.
A triumph in Libya could redefine volleyball in Ghana, inspiring a new generation and cementing El Wak Wings’ legacy. “We’re ready to make Ghana proud,” Dotse declared. Yet, as the April 15 deadline nears, their fate teeters. Will Ghana step up to fuel this dream, or watch it fade? The next five days hold the answer.
