The Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank (FNB), Warren Adams, has disclosed that the bank will partner and take over as the new headline sponsor to resuscitate the prestigious Accra Marathon.
According to the CEO, the move is an opportunity for his outfit to help the organisers, Dansoman Keep Fit Club (DKFC), to relaunch the strategic platform that unearthed athletes and groomed them for international competitions.
Warren Adams noted that apart from supporting the organisation of the event which would come off on November 11, 2023, and all its operations, the bank would be the headline sponsor holding the naming right, kit every runner, volunteer and official and provide adequate presence to guide the entire race for the three disciplines.
The five-year sponsorship deal will also take care of media and publicity of the high-profile event as the bank has already started engaging key media stakeholders to televise it and make it accessible to a wider audience outside Accra through other platforms such as social media, apps and websites.
“We want to be part of the efforts to revive what has been described as the most well-organised athletics competition, and with the introduction of other disciplines like the corporate and high school runs, we will unearth some more talents. Taking the headline sponsorship is the most viable way to go.
“We are headlining one of the most recognised road races in Ghana, and we hope to reach a larger audience with our brand purpose of help, while demonstrating our support for lesser-known sports disciplines and the general fitness of the people in the communities we serve.”
Warren Adams
The Door Left Open for Other Sponsors
The CEO, moreover, noted that the door is left open for other corporate entities which wish to sponsor the Accra Marathon since FNB’s status as headline sponsor does not prevent the Dansoman outfit from engaging other partners.
“Our partnership with the DKFC as headline sponsor does not limit them from getting other corporate brands involved. As much as possible, we want to give an impactful experience for runners, spectators, viewers, volunteers and crew. The DKFC is open to engage partners relevant to the outstanding return of the marathon event.
“We support the progressive digitisation of the First National Bank Accra Marathon. One of the key differentiators for the resumption of the marathon after a six-year hiatus is the enhanced digital identification of all registered runners. We are also working with the DKFC to introduce some techniques and tools to enhance the preparation of participants.”
Warren Adams
It can be recalled that on Friday, September 8, the gloomy state of the Accra Milo Marathon came to the attention of the media, following the withdrawal of the perennial sponsor, Nestle Ghana Limited.
Since the 29th edition in 2016, both patrons and organisers of the Accra Milo Marathon had no clue of a comeback anytime soon.
At its peak, the famous Accra Milo Marathon produced the nation’s best long-distance runners for international competitions and was worth the time of some political elite, including Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Evans Atta Mills, both of whom had the honour of firing the starter’s gun at various points in time.
However, the same race that brought Accra to a standstill in a blaze of glory had left the nation’s top long-distance runners in a mix of excitement and anxiety as they long for another resounding crack of the starter’s pistol.
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