Solomon Tagoe and Patience Effiong Otudung emerged winners of the men’s and women’s races respectively at the 2026 Duku Cycling Championships, held on Sunday as part of the Homowo celebrations in Accra.
Tagoe won the men’s 120-kilometre race, completing the course in about 3 hours, 30 minutes, ahead of Francis Owusu and Victor Cudjoe. Frank Akuffo, Prince Quaye and Emmanuel Sesi completed the top six.
The men’s race started at 11:38am, with the recorded average speed put at 33.27km/h.
In the women’s 50km race, Effiong Otudung took first place, followed by Ellen Anim and Abigail Tetteh. Kersena, Jessica Nattey, Jennifer N. Lamptey and Rebecca Ayana occupied the next four positions.
The women’s race, which started at 11:39am, was completed in 1 hour, 52 minutes, at an average speed of 26.78km/h.
The championship formed part of the 4th edition of the Osu Homowo Festival Cycling Championships, held under the theme “Women Empowerment, Health is Wealth.”
Speaking at the event, Special Guest Kobla Mensah Woyome commended the organisers for sustaining the competition and urged greater participation, particularly among women and girls.
“Cycling provides an excellent opportunity for exercise, recreation and healthy living," the former MP said
"I therefore encourage greater participation by women and girls in cycling and sports generally, both for their health and as an avenue for empowerment, achievement and professional development," he said.
Mr Woyome also called on Corporate Ghana to increase its investment in cycling, saying sponsorship was both a contribution to society and a business opportunity.
Woyome said competitions such as the championship were important for identifying and developing talent, urging stakeholders to create pathways for recreational cyclists to progress into competitive and professional athletes.
He concluded with a call to grow cycling “from recreation to competition, from competition to professionalism, and from Ghana to the world.”
