The Snow Leopard Receives Ministerial Support for his Olympic Campaign on his return to Ghana

The Snow Leopard also know as Kwame Nkrumah Achaempong received personal and full ministerial support on his return to Accra in his native Ghana during late September 2009.  His 2 week whistle stop tour enabled him to spend time with The Minister of Youth and Sport who not only endorsed Kwame’s qualification for Vancouver 2012 as exciting and significant for Ghana but also offered his personal assistance.

Whilst in Ghana The Snow Leopard visited the chief in Mamfe, the proposed location for the first artificial ski slope in Ghana, Kwame’s brainchild to support the local economy and also a legacy to ensure that Ghana can produce a second ski racer in the future.  Kwame also found time to visit his family and spent time with his mum and dad who live on the Cape Coast.  He commented “ catching up with family was particularly special, it was an opportunity to invite them to support me in Vancouver. They are very proud especially as they have been with me through the tough times and my dream to qualify.”

Finding time for training was difficult with a very busy schedule but The Snow Leopard did find time for running, waking up at 5am to pound the streets in a ‘rocky style’ regime before heading off for meetings.   Kwame said “The meetings with the Minister of Sport, KKKK and the Canadian Ambassador to Ghana were amazing, they really pulled out all the stops for the Ghana Ski Team which was great to hear”.

The media attention was also building during Kwame’s visit and he was requested to do several newspaper interviews, featured on their morning breakfast TV and also on national radio.  It has now been agreed to hold a formal celebration dinner at a prestigious location in Ghana during November 2009 to allow companies and people to support the team.