Alberta Mumaah, a 15-year-old pupil from Saamambo Junior High School in Ghana's Wa West District, has won the national javelin title at the National Basic Schools Sports Festival in Accra. Her impressive throw of 32 metres secured the gold medal for the Upper West Region, which collected several other medals across various events but only one gold. Mumaah's achievement has garnered attention and support from local authorities.
Mumaah's journey to success began when her school's sports programme needed a javelin thrower, but no equipment was available. Her coach, Seidu Osman, improvised by carving a wooden stick, which was heavier than a standard javelin, for her to train with. For months, Mumaah practiced with the makeshift javelin, gradually improving her skills. She initially threw 28 metres at her first inter-schools competition and later achieved 30 metres to win at the Wa West and inter-district levels.
Competing at the national stage for the first time in Accra, Mumaah delivered her best throw yet, 32 metres, to claim the gold medal. The Upper West Regional Physical Education Coordinator, Moomin Ishahaque, expressed pride in Mumaah's achievement, noting that her gold medal was the region's only gold from the competition. Ishahaque emphasized the significance of Mumaah's accomplishment for the region.
Mumaah's success has attracted the support of the Wa West Member of Parliament, Supt. (Rtd) Peter Lanchene Toobu, who has adopted her and pledged to cover her school fees and sports training costs until she completes her education. At a ceremony in Wechiau, Toobu presented Mumaah with cash and announced that he would purchase three brand-new standard javelins for her training, a promise he has since fulfilled.
Toobu expressed his confidence in Mumaah's potential to become an international medallist for Ghana in the future. He urged her to remain disciplined and focused, guided by her teachers, parents, and community. The headmaster of Saamambo JHS, represented by Abdullah Ibrahim, thanked Toobu for his support and encouraged other students to take sports seriously, highlighting Mumaah's achievement as a source of pride for the district and region.
Mumaah's story highlights the challenges faced by schools in rural Ghana, particularly in the Upper West Region, where limited access to sports equipment is a significant issue. Her case demonstrates how a single strong performance at a national schools competition can attract private and political sponsorship, changing a child's educational and athletic trajectory.
The MP's support for Mumaah includes funding her school fees and training costs, and he has already delivered the three new javelins he promised. While there is no specified date for Mumaah's next competition or details of a formal training programme, her future in athletics looks promising with the support of her community and local authorities.
Key points
- Alberta Mumaah, 15, won Ghana's national javelin title with a 32m throw.
- Mumaah trained with a wooden stick carved by her teacher due to lack of equipment.
- The Wa West MP has adopted Mumaah, covering her school fees and sports training costs.
