It was all Joy for the Queen Mother of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Nana Afrakoma II, when she warmly received Executives of the Eastern Region Cricket Association to her palace on Friday, July 16, 2021 to deliberate on matters pertaining to the development of Cricket.
The visit, which was to formally inform the Queen Mother on the progress or however, the delay in the finals of the Girls U17 T10 competition, was also to used to further seek the permission and blessings of the Queen Mother to allow the formation of a Girls Club the community.
The Ghana Cricket Association(GCA), in collaborate with the Eastern Region Cricket Association, in April held a Girls U-17 T10 competition, which was under the patronage of the Queen Mother, and therefore, it was necessary to keep her posted on events surrounding the finals.
Boso won in Zone 1, beating Anum and Frankadua, while Tortibo came tall in Zone 2, defeating Pupuni and Mangoase. Abuakwa got all the bragging rights, seeing off the Senchi duo on April 10, 2021.
Secretary to the Eastern Region Cricket Association, Fred Anim Lartey, who was in the company of his Vice Chairman, Foster Abornu and two coaches after explaining the reasons for the delay in the finals of the Girls U-17 T10, also proposed plans of the Association to form a Club in Akwamufie.
“We have to finish T10 which we started in March this year. Then we will move to T20 for the girls, as we are currently playing T20 for boys. Currently there is no funds, so that is why we haven’t played the finals yet. We are however appealing to the Queen Mother, should she get some sponsorship for us, then we’ll complete that competition.”
Nana Afrakoma II, who was in continuous ecstasy, knowing that the Cricket family hasn’t forgotten her passion for the sport promised to donate a trophy to be given to the eventual winners, when the finals is played.
“The game is really on my heart. So, I will keep supporting you in diverse ways, but for now, I have a trophy, which I will donate to be given to the winner of the T20 you intend to play later. I will contact people who I know can help. I will show the video as well to people and they will know that you people are really working. The coach who will start the training, whenever he comes here to train the girls, he should come and see me first.”
The Queen Mother was also delighted to have learnt, that some pupils in Akwamufie were part of the Girls U-17 competition and plans of the Association to nurture a female Coach in Akwamufie, who will eventually take over to train the team in Akwamufie.
The Association presented 1 Cricket soft ball and 1 hard ball to the Queen Mother to symbolize her continuous support to her new found Love, Cricket.
In December 2019, after an introduction of Cricket to over 700 beneficiaries in Asuogyaman at Akwamufie for 2 days, the Queen Mother who was marking her 55th Anniversary on the throne, presented a trophy to winners of a 15 over game which Abuakwa Girls won against Senchi.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
