In a historic move to foster inclusivity in sports, Ghana and Togo have pledged to collaborate in developing and promoting Cerebral Palsy (CP) Football across West Africa and beyond.
The agreement was reached during engagements in Lomé as part of activities marking Togo’s 65th Independence anniversary. Mr. Emmanuel Akpali, President of the Ayawaso Cerebral Palsy Football Club, represented Ghana at discussions held at the Olympic Stadium.
Describing the talks as highly productive, Mr. Akpali announced that Ghana and Togo are planning to extend their collaboration to other African nations by organizing competitive tournaments aimed at integrating athletes with cerebral palsy into mainstream sports.
He revealed that Ghana’s CP football team will soon play two international friendlies against Togo and Nigeria next month—a major step towards boosting the sport’s visibility and acceptance.
“Cerebral Palsy football has a bright future. The players are eager to play, to entertain, and to prove their capabilities,” Akpali said. “We are negotiating to create real opportunities that will empower our disabled citizens through sport.”
Reflecting on his six-year journey of nurturing Ayawaso CP Football Club and attending international training programs, Akpali emphasized the critical need for support from governments, NGOs, corporations, and individuals to help scale CP football to new heights.
He expressed optimism that with the right backing, CP sports could transform lives, inspire communities, and reinforce the message of inclusivity in Africa’s sporting landscape.
