The 11th International Tour du Ghana begins this week with a substantially altered 852.4-kilometre route, an international field of about 90 riders and a renewed push for greater government support.
The event, which runs from 12 to 23 November, will feature cyclists from 15 international teams, including representatives from Europe, the United States and Britain. Riders face a demanding schedule of climbs and road races across the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra regions.
The Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) has removed four northern stages from the programme because of safety and logistical concerns. The planned stages in Tamale, Buipe, Kintampo and Sunyani have therefore been abandoned, significantly changing the shape of this year’s race.
The revised route focuses on Ghana’s southern corridor and has also been arranged to give riders adequate recovery time, particularly those returning from the Tour du Faso.
Racing starts on Saturday, November 14, with a 4.9km prologue from James Town to Osu Castle in Accra. The peloton will then contest a 124km Criterium in Kumasi before tackling road races through Nkawkaw, Koforidua and Somanya.
The fifth stage will take the riders into the Volta Region for a gruelling 160km test through Adaklu, followed by an excursion towards Mount Afadjato. The climbs are expected to place significant demands on the competitors’ strength and endurance.
The competitive programme concludes on November 22 with a 15-lap finale at Olebu, Ablekuma. While the racing distance is 852.4km, teams will cover a total travel distance of 1,598.3km during the 12-day event period.
Call for greater national support
Organisers want the Tour du Ghana to develop beyond a cycling competition and become a platform for sports development, tourism promotion and economic opportunity.
The prize fund is more than GH¢242,000. GCF General Secretary Shaaban Mohammed has called on President John Dramani Mahama to personally flag off the final stage, saying presidential involvement could significantly raise the race’s profile.
Mohammed cited Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore’s support for the 37th Tour du Faso. He said the backing helped increase that race’s prize pool threefold to 57.25 million CFA francs, with 4.8 million CFA francs going to the overall winner and 900,000 CFA francs awarded to each stage winner.
He believes Ghana could learn from that approach by treating cycling as a strategic national sporting asset rather than a peripheral discipline.
Mohammed also referred to President Mahama’s successful mobilisation of $30 million for the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign. He argued that comparable political leadership could help attract corporate investment, promote Ghana’s tourism potential and support the development of cycling towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Kantanka Automobile, Promasidor through its Cowbell brand, and JL Properties are among the companies supporting the tour. JL Properties chief executive Dr James Condua Orleans-Lindsay has reaffirmed his commitment and said the event should produce benefits beyond its results.
The race will also take place alongside the federation’s virtual extraordinary meeting ahead of its December electoral congress, as Ghanaian cycling prepares for important decisions about its future.
