After a slow and frustrating start to the Accra 2026 African Athletics Championships, Ghana bounced back in style by winning three medals and qualifying for the men’s 4x100m relay final.

The host nation, under pressure to impress home supporters at the University of Ghana Stadium, finally found its rhythm through Florence Agyemang, Alex Amankwaa and Esther Ohenewaa, whose performances transformed the atmosphere inside the arena.

Agyemang got Ghana off the mark in the women’s 400m final with a bronze-medal finish in 51.87 seconds after a composed run.

Ethiopia’s Ahmed Ajayba won gold in 51.54 seconds while Botswana’s Obakeng Kamberuka finished second in 51.79 seconds.

The medal lifted Team Ghana and set the tone for an exciting evening.

Alex Amankwaa then produced a determined run in the men’s 800m to secure another bronze medal in 1:46.18.

Kenya’s Kimtai Kkelvin Loti claimed gold ahead of Morocco’s Imade Bouchejda, but Amankwaa’s strong finish ensured Ghana stayed among the medal winners.

In the women’s high jump, Esther Ohenewaa delivered one of her best performances by clearing a personal best height of 1.81m to win silver.

South Africa’s Snyman Christi took gold with 1.84m while Ethiopia’s Betselot Alemayehu finished third.

The loudest cheers of the night came during the men’s 4x100m relay as Ghana’s quartet dominated Heat Two to qualify for the final in 38.69 seconds.

Anchored by Abdul Rasheed Saminu, the team finished ahead of Botswana and Kenya to boost hopes of a relay gold medal.

Nigeria, Mauritius and Zimbabwe will be among Ghana’s biggest challengers in the final.

Saminu, however, warned that the team’s mission was not yet complete.

“We are excited by the victory in the heats but the real work is in the final,” he said.

Ibrahim Fuseni also expressed optimism about Ghana’s chances in the race for gold.

“Ghanaians should expect victory tomorrow. We are looking forward to victory,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mammoudou Baba Seidu finished fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles event won by Botswana’s Kemorera Tisang, with Victor Ntweng and South Africa’s Can Rensburg also finishing on the podium.