The first word that probably came to mind for many of you was huh? when you first heard the announcement, Ghana Ski Team to debut at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Colombia (that’s in Canada not South America for those of you who are geographically challenged). I am sure the winter olympics,snow, skiing & snow leopard are the last things anyone associates with the sweltering heat of Ghana, where the dry desert-like harmattan season is feared during the American/European ski season from December-March, yet never fully prepared for even though it comes every year, while the coldest it usually ever gets is 64 degrees. If there’s one thing Ghana is known for is leading the way, blazing a trail for Africa & making history as the first through the vision & determination of a man named Kwame Nkrumah. This February, you will get to know a modern day, new decade Kwame Nkrumah, who will lead the way, blaze the trail for Africans & make history as the first in the Winter Olympics to represent Ghana as the sole member of the Ghana ski team.

African nations such as Kenya, Senegal, Madagascar, South Africa, Algeria, Ethiopia & Morocco have blazed the trail in inducting Africa into the Winter Olympics in past years. This year Kwame Nkrumah Acheampong of Ghana is on a divine first ever mission to be the first black African to ski in the men’s downhill at the Winter Olympics, which has always been dominated by Scandinavians & countries who have different climates in mountainous terrains that have made them accustomed to sports involving snow & ice. This year will be the first year that the black star nation of Ghana, West Africa will be represented, by an unusual snow leopard covered in red, gold & green with spots of black stars!

This new decade seems to be Ghana’s decade in sports, as the black stars continue to make history with the under-20 football team becoming the first African team to win the world cup, & that same young team with the absence of their international superstar players led Ghana to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations as the underdogs who were never expected to get that far. Ghana’s Black Star football team will go into the World Cup, held on African soil for the first time in history, as the African team to watch, coming off of exemplary play in 2006 as the only African team to reach the last 16 qualifying teams, the winners of the under-20 world cup, and the only team in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations final that will be represented at the 2010 world cup. With polo matches rising up for charity events, Bokum’s rising stars like Joshua Clottey bringing back the excitement of Ghanaian boxing that Azuma Nelson once exemplified, golf courses & basketball courts springing up at every corner, a powerhouse football team going to the world cup, a snow leopard in the winter olympics & the minister of sports vowing to build the sports industry in Ghana, there seems to be no end to the power of sports & sportsmanship from the black star nation.

Kwame Nkrumah Acheapong, Ghana’s snow leopard, is not a fluke or a novelty act, but rather a man with determination, ambition & dreams toward the type of excellence which his namesake spoke of. Kwame Nkrumah Acheampong is a testament to the fact that when one names a child after greatness & leadership, they will have no choice but to be destined for greatness & leadership. Kwame Nkrumah Acheampong is a true Ghana Black Star Rising!

Check him out in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Games begin on Friday, Feb. 12-28. Support Kwame Nkrumah Acheampong & the Ghana Ski Team at : http://www.ghanaskiteam.com/newsite/

http://www.nbcolympics.com/nations/nation=gha/index.html
Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, a Scotland-born Alpine skier of Ghanian origin, qualified for Vancouver in March. The 35-year-old was raised and educated in Ghana, earning a university degree in travel and tourism, before moving back to Britain to earn a master’s degree. He first took up skiing at age 26 in 2001, while working as a receptionist at an indoor ski center in Milton Keynes, England (about 50 miles northwest of London). He first skied on a real mountain in December 2004. His ultimate goal is to become the first black African to ski in the men’s downhill at the Olympic Winter Games. He will not contend for a medal.

“Countrymen, the task ahead is great indeed, and heavy is the responsibility; and yet it is a noble and glorious challenge – a challenge which calls for the courage to dream, the courage to believe, the courage to dare, the courage to do, the courage to envision, the courage to fight, the courage to work, the courage to achieve – to achieve the highest excellencies and the fullest greatness of man. Dare we ask for more in life? ” Dr. Kwame Nkrumah-Address to the National Assembly. 12 June 1965

“You can marry education with sports” Kwame Nkrumah Acheampong