The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) has successfully hosted the 28th Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) Cross Country and the 2nd Minor Games from October 27 to November 1, 2025.
The event, themed “Harnessing the Lesser-Known Sports: The Key to Developing the 21st Century Sportsman,” brought together 16 public universities from across Ghana for a week-long celebration of athletic skill, teamwork and university spirit.
Welcoming athletes and officials at the opening ceremony, Vice-Chancellor of UESD, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, expressed pride in the institution’s growing role in national sports development.
“Hosting this event signifies UESD’s expanding contribution to higher education and sports in Ghana,” he said.
GUSA President, Mr. Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, who also serves as the Director of Sports at UDS, applauded UESD for its commitment and urged participating universities to compete fairly and uphold the values of unity and respect.
KNUST Emerges Overall Champion
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) emerged as the overall winner of the competition, recording outstanding victories across multiple disciplines including Chess, Scrabble, Tug of War, and the highly competitive 10km Cross Country Mixed Relay.
In the relay event, KNUST secured first place with a commanding performance from start to finish.
University of Education, Winneba (UEW) placed second, while University for Development Studies (UDS) claimed third position.
In the Ampe contest, University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) clinched gold, followed by C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in second place, with UESD, the host, proudly taking bronze.
KNUST also swept both the men’s and women’s Chess titles. University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and University of Cape Coast (UCC) took silver in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, while GIMPA and GCTU finished with bronze medals.
The Tug of War contest again saw KNUST take gold, with University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in second place and UDS in third.
In Scrabble, KNUST continued its dominance, claiming gold in both the men’s and women’s challenges. UESD and GCTU won silver and bronze respectively in the men’s event, while UCC and GIMPA followed in the women’s division.
A Milestone Moment for UESD
Hosting the competition marked a significant step for UESD, which is among Ghana’s youngest public universities.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, GUSA President Mr. Tanko praised the university’s organisational excellence:
“UESD is just five years old, yet look at the progress made. Hosting GUSA is no small feat, and UESD has executed this event excellently.”
He emphasized the critical role of GUSA in developing national sporting talent.
“Most of Ghana’s national athletes are products of GUSA. When UDS won the World University Cup, it proved that Ghana can compete globally.”
Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Mr. Kwame Poku, noted that the games had significantly increased UESD’s visibility.
“Our facilities are still developing, so we started with the Minor Games for exposure. Many participants did not know much about UESD before, and they were impressed with what they saw,” he said.
Government Support and Encouragement
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Awatey, visited the university during the games as part of her official engagement. She encouraged athletes to continue balancing academic excellence with sports performance.
Building the Future of Sports in Ghana
This year’s GUSA Cross Country and Minor Games highlighted the growing significance of lesser-known sports in shaping well-rounded athletes. By expanding opportunities beyond mainstream sports, Ghanaian universities are broadening pathways for athletes to shine nationally and globally.
As Somanya returns to calm, one message stands clear: Ghana’s universities are not only training professionals—but also nurturing the next generation of world-class athletes.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
