One arm, full heart: Two para athletes living beyond limbs

They rise before dawn. There are no stadium crowds or loud applause. Just grit, grass, and determination. At El Wak Stadium in Accra, three figures stretch in the morning light—two young men with missing limbs and their coach.

This is not just training; it is transformation.

Meet Edmond Govina and Amos Ahianga. They are two para-athletes with one dream: to change Ghana’s sporting narrative—one stride, one throw, one heartbeat at a time.

"I had a real traffic accident," Edmond shares. It was a life-changing crash that took his arm seven years ago. What could have broken him instead made him stronger. Today, he leads Ghana’s para-athletics team, throwing javelins and shot puts with purpose.

“I met a physio during rehab,” he explains. “He introduced me to sports as part of my recovery.”

Edmond wanted more than just recovery. "I read about athletics and decided to explore it," he says. "It's been seven years now, and I stay committed."

Amos has a similar story. He is both a sprinter and long jumper who races against time—and doubt.

“Back in primary school," Amos recalls, "a coach saw me outrun able-bodied students." The coach told him he could succeed through athletics.

Those words were prophetic for Amos. He changed narratives when many thought his life was over before it began.

"That encouragement sparked my interest," he says proudly. "I've traveled to Morocco, France, and Malawi—the experience changed my life."

"When I saw people with disabilities abroad, I realized I’m lucky," Amos reflects. "I thank God for the strength to compete."

Many like Edmond and Amos can achieve great things but often go unnoticed at home.

Their efforts may be overlooked, but Coach Ibrahim Aminu Sulemana stands behind them. His eye for talent matches his unwavering belief in them.

"When I saw Amos run faster than able-bodied students, I told his teacher: 'This boy is a national asset,'" he recalls.

"Edmond came on his own; we supported his dream too."

However, hurdles off the track are often higher than those on it: limited competitions, poor infrastructure, little financial support—a system that forgets its most determined athletes.

“We use our own money for transport,” says Amos. “Sometimes I wanted to give up.”

“What we need are competitions for our impairment categories,” Edmond adds. “And equipment—prosthetics and racing chairs—they're expensive.”

Yet they persist—not just for medals but for meaning.

Their message is clear: disability does not mean begging; it means rising up.

“I also barber,” says Amos. “I want people to see that we can do more.”

“Para-sports can restore dignity,” Edmond states firmly. “We’re more than our limbs.”

From amputee football to powerlifting, Ghana’s para-athletes are rising together. All they ask is that the nation supports them—with structure and visibility.

Beyond missing limbs lies something whole: heart.

And heart is what builds champions.