The golf course of Kumasi’s Royal Golf Club came alive as golfers from nine African countries competed for the Telecel 69th Asantehene Open Golf Championship, one of the continent’s most prestigious golf tournaments.
Asantehene, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, officially opened the championship with a ceremonial tee-off, joined by Telecel Group Board Chair, Nicolas Bourg, Telecel Ghana CEO, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai and the Chairman of the Royal Golf Club Management Team, Kwesi Atta-Antwi.
The four-day tournament, sponsored by Telecel Ghana for the ninth consecutive year, attracted professional and amateur golfers from nine countries including Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria, highlighting the competition’s growing international appeal.
The tee-off ceremony blended sporting tradition with cultural pageantry. A traditional procession ushered in the King, dignitaries, traditional leaders and guests onto the course before a flag-hoisting ceremony featuring all participating nations was conducted by a contingent of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Addressing the media, the Director of External Affairs at Telecel Ghana, Komla Buami, said Telecel’s support of the Asantehene Golf Tournament forms part of the telecom’s giant annual Ashanti Month celebration, which has grown steadily over the years to support development across the region in sports, health, digital education and local enterprise.
“Headlining the Asantehene Golf Open is part of our annual Ashanti Month activities in the region, which this year includes engaging our enterprise customers and retailers, supporting maternal healthcare in Kumasi South Hospital, launching Ashanti Codes to train 1000 young people in digital skills and organising community health screening in Konongo,” Mr. Buami said. “At the centre of our celebration is headlining the Asantehene Open Golf tournament because it is one of the sporting disciplines that brings people together from across different countries and we are excited to grow our partnership and investment in golf.”
The Royal Dinner with the King
The Telecel 69th Asantehene Open concluded with a Royal Dinner and Awards Gala at the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee Hall, where players were recognised for their performances across professional, championship, handicap and sponsor categories. Telecel Ghana’s Larry Arthur won the Sponsors 9-Hole category of the tournament.
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Speaking at the Royal Dinner to honour competitors and winners of the golf tournament, Telecel Group Board Chairman Nicolas Bourg reaffirmed the telco’s commitment to the Ashanti Region and its longstanding relationship with the Ashanti Kingdom.
“This year’s open golf tournament, like those before it, has been a powerful expression of sportsmanship, excellence and respect for tradition. Telecel assures you of our continued support for this tournament and our partnership with the Ashanti Kingdom,” Mr Bourg said. “We started our network expansion program across Ghana to improve connectivity for our customers, and Ashanti has not been left out. Our focus is to deliver reliable, affordable services to our customers and we will not relent on this commitment.”
Celebrating the tournament’s competitors and winners, Otumfuo shared interesting lessons from his rich and storied golfing history and advocated for national support for golf. He also thanked Telecel Ghana for their longstanding support of the golf tournament.
“We are delighted that our headline sponsor, Telecel, has supported the golf tournament along the journey. We are grateful for what they have done and continue to do, and I’m sure they recognise the enormous opportunities that beckon if we can upscale our efforts and raise the sport to the appropriate level.”
The Telecel 69th Asantehene Open once again reinforced its status as a leading sporting event in West Africa, bringing together elite competition, international participation and a uniquely Ghanaian blend of sport and tradition.
