ADVERTISEMENT

"Everybody knows Ghanaians make the best Jollof”

The British turned Ghanaian athlete says he is proud to be Ghanaian and does not regret switching allegiance

___6343931___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6343931___2017___3___9___14___Sean+Sarfo+Antwi+2

Asked how his Ghanaian household will be marking the celebrations, which began on March 6, Safo Antwi told British publication The Voice: “It’s a big thing, 60 years of independence. It will be marked as a special occasion in my house, no doubt my mum will be cooking up a storm. And yes, there will be Jollof rice, plenty of it. Everybody knows we (Ghanaians) make the best Jollof.”

READ MORE: Sean Safo-Antwi

The 27-year-old sprinter switched allegiance to compete for Ghana early last year and participated in the Olympics in Rio.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I should have made the switch years ago," he said. “I’m so glad I did it because I’ve now been to an Olympic Games, which is something I always wanted to do.”

Safo-Antwi also spoke about his Ghanaian identity.

“I’ve been brought up by a Ghanaian family and it made sense to try and firstly become good enough to compete for the country and then secondly qualify.

“Once I believed I was good enough the decision was easy. My whole house is Ghana.

“My mum talks to me all day, everyday in Twi. I don’t speak the language fluently but I do understand it and can articulate myself when I need to.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Sean Safo-Antwi

“I’m British but the blood that runs through me is Ghanaian. There isn’t anything about the culture that I’m not aware of and if there is, I’ll learn it quickly.”

The North London born Antwi said his experience with Team Ghana at the Olympics in Rio was significantly different from what he used to feel as part of Team GB (Great Britain).

“When I met my (Ghanaian) team mates for the first time it was all love, it was the first time I had met a lot of them and they showed me why it was the right decision to be a part of Team Ghana. It was a brotherhood. I can’t say it was like that with Team GB.

READ MORE:Athletics

ADVERTISEMENT

“That’s something that will stay with me forever. Being accepted in that manner was humbling. Being a part of it all also made my mum proud.”

Last month, Safo-Antwi won the Senior Men's 60m final at the AIT International Athletics Grand Prix in Athlone, County Westmeath.

READ MORE:Athletics

Setting a season-record in the men’s indoor 60m with a time of 6.56 second, he finished ahead of Giffens Ramon of Barbados and Cherry D'Angelo of the USA.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT