Ishmael Arthur of the Ghana Armed Forces and Abdulai Ramata have written their names in the history books as the first athletes to win the maiden Mountain and Trail Race. The 10KM race, organized by the Ghana Mountain and Trail Federation (GMTF) on Saturday, 1st February, 2025, attracted over 100 athletes and served as a platform to promote the sport in the country.
Arthur clocked an impressive time of 35:15.16 to grab the ultimate male prize, while Ramata finished with a time of 45:18.44 to pick up the female title. The challenging terrain, which included hilly mountains, slopes, and tricky trails, tested the athletes’ endurance and determination.
Speaking after the event, Ishmael Arthur described the race as “a true test of strength and resilience. The course was tough, but it’s exactly what I needed to push myself to the limit.” He added, “This win is a motivation for me to train even harder and aim for greater heights in the future.”
As the first female winner of the race, Abdulai Ramata was ecstatic about her victory. “I’m thrilled to have made history, and I’m already looking forward to defending my title in the next edition,” she said. Ramata emphasized the need for more competitions to improve her timing, saying, “The more I compete, the better I’ll become. I’m eager to take on new challenges and push myself to be the best.”
The top three winners in both the male and female categories received medals, certificates, and undisclosed cash prizes. Basit Afful and David Nakousi took the second and third spots in the male category, while Young Magdalene Akotia and Seraphina Adubilla came second and third in the female category.