Bodybuilding is fast growing in Ghana. During the year 2000/2001, many bodybuilding fans in Ghana thought the interest of the sport had gone down due to the absent of any competitive competitions for the bodybuilders to compete in. The sport went off the sporting scene in Ghana for about 3 years, after the 1999 Mr. Ghana Bodybuilding Championship. But with the improved physical structure of the athletes that was displayed during 2006 Man Ghana Championship, many were convince that the interests in the game have rather increased.

    Mr. Abdul-Hayye Yartey set out to revive competitive bodybuilding in Ghana in the year 2003, starting with the organization of a local competition, Mr. Kasoa 2003. Yartey is the Chief Executive Officer of Flavour Productions Co Ltd, which is a limited liability company incorporated for the purposes of creative sports development and trading in sporting equipments/facilities. He says the success of the Kasoa competition compelled him to make an event of national scale.

 In 2004, Flavour Production put on a national bodybuilding championship in Accra called the Muscleflavour Night of Champions. The event was open to all bodybuilders and featured ten of the country’s tops. Yartey says he seeks to promote bodybuilding to the highest level, to bring the world’s attention to the great potential of Ghanaian bodybuilders, and to emphasize the important of health and fitness to fellow countrymen.

Mr Yartey who was the sole financier of the maiden Muscleflavour contest said his determination to promote bodybuilding led to his making some contacts in Europe and the USA for assistance in after the 2004 event. He also contacted the International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) and the Africa Federation Bodybuilding (AFBB), both of whom throw their support behind is vision. He said the President of the AFBB, Dr. Eng Adel Fahim, have been very supportive till date.

Mr Hayye Yartey CEO of GBBA

To give bodybuilding in Ghana the international dimension, Yartey and his team worked very hard to in order to get affiliated to the IFBB and AFBB. During the process, the Ghana Muscleflavour Amateur Bodybuilding Association (GMABA) was created by Flavour Production as the body responsible for the development of bodybuilding.

His hard work paid off, as the GMABA was given the authoritative right and accreditation by the AFBB and the Ghana Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Association GWBBA to operate and represent Ghana in all bodybuilding programmes and projects. He said “it was a joy seeing Ghana affiliated to the AFBB for the first time under my leadership and hard work.” Due to the late securing of the appropriate documents from the GWBBA to enable the GMABA affiliate to the AFBB, the Muscleflavour contest did not come on in 2005.

Muscleflavour Qualification to Mr Universe 06

2006 was a busy year for the GMABA after been given the accreditation to represent Ghana in all bodybuilding projects. The year started with the organization of a mini contest in Takoradi called “The Muscleflavour Qualification To Mr. Universe 06”. The event was aimed at selecting bodybuilders to represent Ghana in the IBFA Mr. Universe contest in Sapri, Italy. 5 bodybuilders were selected to represent the nation at this contest. Unfortunately, due to the difficulties in securing visa for these bodybuilders, only one of the bodybuilders (Sylvester Denis) represented Ghana at this event.

On the 2^nd of July 2006, Sylvester Denies (Cobra) represented Ghana in her first ever international event (Mr. Universe 2006) in Sapri-Italy. Sylvester competing in his first ever international contest place 7^th out of 11 in his division.

Sylvester Dennis

During the period of 18^th – 22^nd September, Ghana participated in the Mr. Africa bodybuilding championship in Egypt for the first time and was represented by Cornelius Ankra, Mustapha Richardson, and Arnold Aryee. Ghana was the eighth country. The participation of the Ghanaians in the championship was facilitated by the GMABA. The President of the AFBB was impress with the performance of the Ghanaian team at their first contest.

On the 24^th of November at the Osu Presby Hall, the nation witness one of the biggest bodybuilding championship ever stage in the country. The “Man Ghana” bodybuilding Championship which was the new name for the Muscleflavour contest saw 21 well-sculptured bodybuilders battle it out for the right to be called Man Ghana 06. Samuel Asante muscled his way through the 21 well-built contestants competing for the right to be called Man Ghana 06.

Mr. Yartey stated that “getting Ghana affiliate to the AFBB, Ghana participating in an international event and the Mr. Africa Bodybuilding championship for the first time, staging one of the biggest bodybuilding event in the country and the bringing back of competitive bodybuilding back into the Ghanaian sporting scene as some of his greatest achievement in bring competitive bodybuilding in Ghana.

Mr. Yartey who has single-handedly promote the sport in Ghana to the international level in the pass 4 years, was awarded the Best Administrator in Africa for the year 2006 as per the decision of the Executive Council of the AFBB for his effort in the development of the sport on the continent.

His effort over the pass 4 years have led to the introduction of other bodybuilding contests and various health and fitness activities in Ghana.

After the 2006 Man Ghana contest, his effort to gain recognition from the National Sport Council [NSC] of Ghana paid off when the NSC give the GMABA the authorization to constitute the Ghana Bodybuilding Association[GBBA].

This year, the GMABA is expected to participate in various championships such as the 07 Fitness Universe in Italy, the Africa Junior Championship in Mauritius, Mr. Cote D’ Ivoire in Ivory Coast, IFPA Pro International in USA, and the Mr. Africa Bodybuilding Championship in Algeria. As well as the organization of the Man Ghana 07 Championship.

The Ghana Muscleflavour Amateur Bodybuilding Association [GMABA] is the sole body given the authoritative right and accreditation by the National Sport Council under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to operate and represent Ghana in all bodybuilding programmes and projects.

It has gained it recognition, affiliation and support from international bodies such as the Africa Federation of Bodybuilding [AFBB], International Bodybuilding and Fitness Association [IBFA], International Fitness and Physique Association [IFPA] and the International Federation of Bodybuilding [IFBB].

The GMABA is the organizer of the Man Ghana bodybuilding championship, the nation’s biggest and only official bodybuilding championship. It combines sports and entertainment with the finals offering patrons of the sports of bodybuilding. A unique prestige Man Ghana, the nation’s annual bodybuilding championship is the most celebrated bodybuilding competition in Ghana, and it attracts many of the best competitors in Ghana.

The maiden event of “Man Ghana 06” successfully came to an end after two preliminary events with Samuel Asante winning the right to be called Man Ghana 06. Samuel Asante muscled his way through 21 well-built contestants competing for the right to be call Man Ghana 06 to reign supreme in the 2006 Man Ghana Contest at the Osu Presby Hall on the 24^th of November.

There were attractive trophies, a giant overall winner trophy, glittering medals, certificates and food supplements to be won, as well as the battle for a place in the National Team [The Black Muscle], which were introduce for the first time.

 The anticipation for the 2007 event is greater than ever as it will be bigger and better in terms of attraction and organization.

This year’s event will be organized on two levels. Level 1-Qualifications to be held in Accra, Takoradi, Kumasi and Cape Coast, and level 2- the finals to be held in Accra in November at the International Conference Center.

The will be;

Press conferences, - A chance to meet all of the competitors, A Victory Party for competitors, officials’, media houses, VIP’s and sponsors, and A Seminar, - A chance for the competitors to recount their feelings and experiences from the contest.

All events will draw audience from demographic and social segments mostly between the ages of 18 to 45 years and about 1000 audience is being targeted.

The GMABA perceives this setting as the most conducive for developing and promoting health and fitness, and the less practiced sport of bodybuilding in Ghana.  This is more so crucial in our present times when our lifestyles involve high stress levels, alcohol intake and high calorie diets.

Samuel Asante aka Obour

SAMUEL 'OBUOR' Asante muscled his way through 21 well-built contestants to reign supreme in the 2006 Man Ghana contest at the Osu Presby Hall last Friday.

The 31-year-old dread-locked heavy weight contestant from Tema demonstrated exceptional front double bisects and side chest muscle from start to finish.

His well cut designed contoured body placed him miles ahead of his compatriots, and even before the Judges came out with their verdict, it was common knowledge among the audience that Asante was ahead.

Not only did he emerge as the overall winner of the competition, he extended his dominance to stand tall in the heavyweight category as well.

At the last stage of the well-attended competition, his next to non-triangular upper body placed his opponent, Arnold Aryee deep into his shadows.

The King of the night in an interview after the show said that: "This is the beginning of good things to come, and I am not going to relent on my oars, I will plunge deeper into training to soar higher in the sport."

The King of the night won the 1993 'Mr. Tema' contest and was runners-up to Richard 'Dallas' Eshun in the 2001 Man Ghana contest.

For his effort, Asante took home a giant trophy, a glittering medal, a certificate and food supplement.

Mustapha Richardson, who doubled as the most muscular, trailed Asante and Cornelius Ankrah followed in that order.

Arnold Aryee clinched the ultimate prize in the middleweight division beating defending champion, Christopher Antoh a.k.a. King Sabato, while Eric Abbiew placed third. It was Sabato's par excellence dance pose that drew thunderous applause and screams from the crowd when he perfectly blended stage art with Ofori Amposah's 'Broken Heart'.

By that splendid entertainment show, 'Show' as he is popularly referred to, went home with the best dance pose award.

The most behaved award went to Joe Agyeman, while first timer, Eric M. finished winning the new discovery award.

Victor Agbodo emerged as the automatic winner in the lightweight division.