IS THERE MORE POTENTIAL FOR SURFING IN GHANA?

By Cameron Henderson

A surfer in action

Surfing these days is a worldwide sporting phenomenon, having etched itself into sporting and recreational culture worldwide it has become an incredibly well known activity participated in many different countries around the world.

The origins of surfing are still shrouded in uncertainty, as there have been many accounts from European explorers and foreign travelers as to the birthplace of surfing culture. Primitive surfing activities have been said to of been enjoyed by native people in Hawaii, Tahiti and Polynesia, reported on by explorers such as Captain James Cook and Lieutenant James King, who visited these islands in the pacific during the 1700s. In addition to these accounts by European explorers, citizens of Peru, a country riddled with stories of ancient civilization dating back thousands of years, have suggested that surfing may have originated on the north shores of their coastline up to thousands of years ago.

Whatever the case may be, it is apparent that since the introduction of surfing into the limelight by famous Hawaiian Olympic swimming gold-medalist, Duke Kahanamoku, the sport has taken off worldwide in the popular form it is known for today. Duke travelled the world in the early 1900s, bringing the sport of surfing out of Hawaii and pioneering it across the world, introducing foreign countries in the beauty and elegance of riding waves.

Over the years surfing has evolved rapidly into the sport it is today, now a multi-billion dollar enterprise consisting of fashion outlets, film companies, television coverage, corporate sponsorships, professional competitions and international publicity that one could not comprehend one hundred years ago when it just found itself crawling out onto the world stage.

While surfing is such a popular sport in so many countries, however, we at Central Press decided it was about time to investigate whether Ghana had the potential to become a driving force in the explosion of surf culture around the world.

Busua Beach, one of Ghana's most popular surf beaches

It is commonly reported that Ghana, more than most countries in the Western region of Africa, is lucky enough to possess a string of beautiful, untouched coastlines, which in this day and age are hard to find. The popular international surfing website, globalsurfers.com, has many reviews and public comments on the potential for surfing in Ghana, and it seems that there are many tourists who enjoy visiting the local beaches and enjoying the swell here.

While it seems that many surfers enjoy visiting Ghana to experience the waves, uncrowded coastlines and amazing culture of the nation, Central Press did not discover a great deal of local passion for the sport. It seems that majority of people who come here discover that Ghana is one of the last places on earth where tropical surfing is still a reality; perfect waves, empty line-ups and amazing weather, one can’t really go wrong. Though it seems that more local promotion of the sport throughout Ghana would be beneficial to the population.

The Ghana Surfing Association, Ghana’s official surfing body, is responsible for all surfing events and publicity regimes centered on surfing throughout the nation. Currently they are responsible for administration of Ghana’s national surf team, consisting of three Ghanaian surfers, who have competed in competitions around Ghana and also in Cote d’Ivoire. While it is clear there is a passion for surfing amongst these three individuals and the official body that runs the team, there definitely needs to be greater publicity surrounding the potential for surfing to be a major sport in Ghana.

Surfing is an enjoyable activity, both for leisure and for sporting fitness, so Ghanaian people should embrace its uprising as they are blessed with the benefits of perfect surf conditions throughout majority of their nation’s coastline. Ghana has the potential to be a nation highly involved in the explosion of this worldwide phenomenon and it is high time that surfing emerges from a minor, underground movement into a widespread form of leisurely activity through Ghana, possibly bring Ghana onto the world stage in the not to distant future.