Ghanaian sprint star Benjamin Azamati has made the strategic decision to skip the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, to focus on his preparations for the World Championships later this year.
Azamati, who shattered Ghana’s long-standing 100m national record with a blistering 9.90 seconds in 2022, will not feature for the national relay team during the May 10–11 event, despite having played a pivotal role in securing Ghana’s qualification during the Paris Olympics relay heats last year.
President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini, confirmed the decision, indicating that Azamati requested permission to concentrate fully on his individual build-up toward the 2025 World Championships, scheduled for September.
“He has other priorities in terms of preparation for the World Championships, and we’ve granted him that permission,” Fuseini told JoySports.
While Azamati’s absence will be felt, Ghana Athletics remains confident in the depth and capability of the remaining squad. The relay team will feature experienced sprinters such as Joseph Paul Amoah, Sean Sarfo Antwi, Ibrahim Fuseini, Mustapha Bokpin, and Barnabas Aggerh — the latter having recently impressed at the African Games.
“We still have a strong and competitive squad,” said Fuseini. “These are top-level athletes, and we believe they have what it takes to qualify for the World Championships.”
The Guangzhou World Relays offer a vital pathway to the global stage, with top finishers earning automatic qualification to the 2025 World Championships. Despite Azamati’s absence, the focus within Team Ghana remains fixed on delivering a strong performance and booking their ticket to the September showdown.
