With 8 days to the 15th Africa Scrabble Championship, we profile a nation that can now easily be described as the Mecca of Scrabble on the continent. This country is currently writing for herself a beautiful story, one that has never been told before in the history of our sport. The country that gave Scrabble an inroad into the big time, the African Games, GHANA’s heritage is laced in Gold, from Tarkwa to Bibiani through Dunkwa to Asankragwa, Osagyefo’s country and home to the Black Stars. Ghana has risen to become a powerhouse in world Scrabble.
The Golden Fingers have picked some of their well decorated players to do battle in Kigali. The Haruna Adamu led Scrabble Association of Ghana have handed the country’s most consistent player, Charles Tachie-Menson EXP the Captain’s badge. There is no better warrior to lead the Golden Fingers if not the one who finished 8th at the 2023 World Scrabble Championship in Las Vegas, United States. Charles Tachie-Menson EXP is a player’s player, well grounded, calm and a gentle assassin on the board and a down-to-earth human off the board.
Ghana is aware of the dangers and rigours of ‘war’ and have lined up an impenetrable wall comprising the brilliant and in-form Edwin Boama. Stanley Ubiedi who finished in the Top 10 at the 14th Africa Scrabble Championship in Lusaka, Fatawu Bayenang, Mohammed Abdulai, Huzeru Sanni and the wondergirl, Betty Kyeremanteng. Betty who started her competitive Scrabble journey only last year in Lagos at the Africa Youth Scrabble Championship has gone on to earn podium places at international events with the cherry on the cake being the bronze medal she won at the African Games for Ghana, defeating Africa’s best female player to secure her country’s only medal in Scrabble.
The Golden Fingers will be missing some of their star players in Chrys Placca, Christian Mensah, George Addo among others. However, what they lack in quantity, they make up in their quality.
Africa anticipates a performance that shines as brightly as the gold for which their nation is renowned. With a legacy built on resilience, skill, and the spirit of unity, the Ghanaian team embodies the brilliance of their rich cultural heritage.
Will Ghana emerge triumphant from the Battle of Kigali?
Will the Africa Scrabble Crown Jewel be covered in Gold dust on Sunday 27th October, 2024? One thing is certain, Ghana is here and Africa awaits!
