For one full week from Sunday, 26th July to Friday, 1st August 2025 the usually vibrant lecture halls and studios of all 47 Colleges of Education across Ghana went completely silent. Not because CETAG had called another strike (as the winds of the past may have blown), but this time, the silence was intentional and celebratory. It was the time for COESA 2025, the annual festival of the Colleges of Education Sports Association. A festival not of speeches and seminars, but of sweat, speed, strength, and school pride.
Bagabaga College of Education (BACE) proudly joined the northern zone games hosted by Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education (NJA) in Wa, Upper West Region. They gathered alongside their northern siblings: Bimbilla College of Education (BIMBICO), St. John Bosco’s College of Education (BOSCOS), Gbewaa, Tumu (TUCE), McCoy, St. Vincent, Tamale (TACE), and of course, the host school NJA.
Like warriors heading to a noble contest, BACE came prepared with athletes, coaches, technical brains, and an enthusiastic sports leadership led by Lecturers Abdulai Hamza (affectionately called “Kenya”) and Jabiru Hussein. Even more inspiring, the Principal of BACE, Professor Issahaku Gazali, joined the team to lend his support. As an African proverb goes, “A single bracelet does not jingle” and indeed, the spirit of unity and leadership was felt across the entire BACE team.
The air was filled with anticipation as teams competed in football, volleyball, handball, tennis, javelin, discus, athletics, and more. The athletes, both men and women, chased after gold, silver, and bronze, but more importantly, for the glory of their college. In this spirited clash of talent and tenacity, the field was a great equaliser. Some tasted joy, others disappointment. But such is the way of the festival “Even the best dancer on the village square must one day bow to a better drummer.”
At the climax of it all, jubilation broke out as the BACE men’s handball team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and grabbed gold in a nail-biting finale. In a rare but moving gesture, the usually calm and composed Prof. Gazali couldn’t contain his joy he joined the students in jubilation dancing and drumming. He threw protocol to the wind and joined the students to jubilate because when the drum beats well, even the elder must dance!
One of the brightest stars of the festival was none other than BACE’s own Mohammed Taufik Alolo, whose sheer speed and grit on the track earned him the title of Best Sprinter in the men’s division. He blazed through the 100m and 200m events, leaving nothing but dust and admiration in his wake.
As the dust settled and the final tallies were counted, the medal table revealed the true scope of the northern battlefield. BACE placed 4th with a total medals of 20 (7 gold, 4 silver, and 9 bronze).
Bagabaga’s 4th place finish is no small feat. For a school competing against nine others in the northern zone, each with its own traditions and talent pools, BACE proved itself a worthy force. As the elders say, “The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth” but BACE did not burn anything down; they simply lit up Wa with excellence and pride.
Kudos to our gallant athletes, the tireless coaches, and the entire technical team. Your determination, discipline, and sportsmanship have lifted the flag of BACE high and proud. Special thanks also go to the principal and management for ensuring Bagabaga’s impactful presence at COESA 2025.
May the fire you’ve ignited continue to burn bright in future competitions.
Long Live BACE.
Long Live BACE Sports.
And may our legs forever run with purpose, and our hearts beat with the rhythm of unity.
Writer
Macharious Nabang
Lecturer, BACE
