Author: Victoria Nana Adwoa Kwofie
National handball player Vida Baffowaa, who plays for Police Ladies, was among over 34 women honored at the Women in Sports Achievers Awards on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium. The event, led by Madam Gloria Commodore, celebrated women who have made significant contributions to sports in Ghana.
Baffowaa began her handball journey at Blessed Senior High School in Kosoa before joining Reniijoe Handball Club in 2013. Her first national call-up came when she played for Ghana’s Under-20 team in Togo during an opening championship.
After the tournament, she was recruited by the Head Coach of the Police Handball Team, where she has been playing as a civilian since 2016. With Police Ladies, she has been a key player, contributing to many victories, including participating in the Prudential Energy Invitational Championship in Nigeria in 2019.
In 2022, Baffowaa was named the Best Left Back at the Greater Accra Handball Association’s awards after a stellar league season. Her first senior national team call-up came during the African Games, where she played in all the matches, scoring the most goals for Team Ghana. Vida was adjourned in the maiden edition of Afahye Handball Championship 2024 as the most valuable player.
After receiving her award, Baffowaa expressed her gratitude, saying, “I want to use this opportunity to thank God Almighty for bringing me this far, the organizers, and to my husband, who is also a handball player, for his support and guidance throughout my journey as a player. I also want to thank all my coaches for spotting the talent in me and helping me shape it both at the club and national levels.”
Reflecting on the significance of the award, she added, “I ask God for His continuous strength and grace to always be able and available to represent my club and my country Ghana whenever I am called to do so.”
She emphasized that the recognition motivates her to work harder, stating, “This award means that I have to do more because I might not know who is watching. I hope this serves as an encouragement to up-and-coming handball players.”
This year’s edition also marked the 10th anniversary of the Women in Sports Achievers Awards, as well as the retirement of the scheme’s founder, Madam Gloria Commodore. After 60 years in the sports world, having competed in eight different sports disciplines.