Women From Ghana

"I never felt that’s what I was born to do. I could do more than that, so that is something that I always wanted to change."

"I love DC [Washington DC] because the people are very respectful, a predominantly Black community gives a feeling of home. You will see so many Ghanaians, Ugandans, Ethiopians basically, you will see people who are the same. People who will take you as a sister and make sure that you do not feel out of place."

"Visibility matters because for me being able to share my story is one of the ways that we can solve problems."

"I had no player to look up to, until I saw the 2011 Women’s World Cup. I saw Alex Morgan, who became my role model and inspiration, not just on the field, but also outside the field: believe in yourself and your ability even if other people don’t believe in that."

"I am super excited that I finally have played at the WAFCON. This is a dream come true."

"Where I grew up, when you’re a kid, everybody, especially the older people when they see you play, they call on you based on the player that they think best fits your style. When I was like, eight or nine years old, Kaka was my role model. I always loved watching him play for AC Milan, and Brazil. So, one day I was playing with the boys and I needed a name to play. There was this old man who was sitting right next to the field and he was like, ‘Oh, you’re like Kaka from Brazil.’ Pretty much from then on I was Jen Kaka."

"WAFCON is the biggest women’s football competition in Africa. It’s always a great opportunity to play on such a huge stage, and I’m super excited to represent Ghana again."

"Every day I wake up and it feels like I’m still dreaming."

"We don’t really care about their World ranking as I know we can match them. We are going to play as a team and I know at the end of the day we are going to achieve what we deserve."

"Being a Nuzest Influencer means a lot to me, and not only inspire young athletes to work harder but also help them take care of their body and stay healthy as well. Where I came from, I was never introduced to nutritions as much as a player, but when I had the opportunity to further my career here, I wanted to learn all that I didn't have in my country so I can help young athletes to understand how proteins and nutrition are important for players."

"You have to make sure you’re fit, that your weaknesses improve … you have to have confidence in yourself. There is always something to work on, so you should never not be doing something."

"I am so proud to be Ghanaian."

"Sometimes I keep reminding myself like, How did this happen? How did this happen? You know, but I feel like it’s hard work and if you believe in it, and you have the right people around you to push you to work harder. For me, people see where I am now. But it’s not easy, this journey."

"I've played football since I was very young, around four years old, when I saw the boys playing, and one of the dads of the other kids saw my mum and was like: 'Bring her down to the football that the boys do'."

"Other than that, model your training so your intensity and the way you think will be the same as the professional game. It’s a lot of sacrifice. There’s so many things you miss out on because you need to stay focused. But it’s going to pay off for sure."

"“Reach out to teams like I did. Send a bunch of emails to coaches. It’s all about getting the chance, because for me, I don’t have an agent, and if I didn’t go to the (Sky Blue FC) tryout, I wouldn’t have ever had the chance."

"Where I am and where I want to be is a little bit far... I always stay positive. If it happens I could make it one day. That is the dream and I will forever be grateful."

"It’s just been really exciting to play for the national team — It’s always been a dream, but I never thought I’d actually be here. It didn’t become real to me until I was there, and it was one of the best experiences of my life."

"I hope I can add a lot more … not just goals, but assists, leadership and encouragement."

"My first thought was … to make Ghana be spoken about in a very, very good light in women’s football."

"When I was coming on, I told myself even if it is for only two minutes I will make use of it and that is what I did when I was coming on."

"From the first day I was a little bit shy. I'm a shy person, but then straight away, I've never been in an environment before where everyone is genuine. Everybody's really grateful and shows positivity and they made me feel like I've been a part of it for a long time."

"We want to do the best we can to win it."

"I want to give this continent so much respect, but I also want to gain it. The only way you gain it is by performing, by showing who we are."

"Some of the younger players bring so much energy to the team. It lifts us."

"It’s been a hectic year and a half, but I’ve learned an incredible amount about myself, become more mature, and gained a patience I perhaps didn’t have before."

"Training has been really serious, it's been very detailed, and we can't wait to start the game because we know how important this game is for us and I believe with the preparation that we would go far."

"I’m really grateful to win this award two times in a row and to be the top scorer. This only makes me want to do more."

"We can’t wait for people to take us seriously — we have to make them see the value."

"The further you move away from it, the more difficult it is. But then, before you experience that difficulty, you might think, why should you choose who I end up with for me? But it's for your own good, because that way, the person appreciates where you're coming from."

"Consequently, the cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in Ghana has become one of the highest in the world."

"Cancer causes more deaths in the world than HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis or Malaria."

"I was a bit resistant, but then I’ve grown to believe that it makes it easier. Because if you marry someone who understands the culture or is familiar with Asanteman and rule, they appreciate you better, they know where you're coming from, and so they respect you better."

"Now, when you are planning a business in the country, you sort of can't plan even a few months ahead. It is impossible."

"As early as 9, even before they become sexually active because human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted oncogene. So you tell the child before they become sexually active; that way, you catch them early."

"There’s a lot of difference between the football operation in Ghana and Tanzania. In Ghana, there is little or no support but the story is different here. Because of how passionate they are, fans here are even able to fund a club when they are embarking on a trip, that alone is motivating enough to fight for the club"

"For me, it’s always been an honor to wear the nation’s badge"

"It’s a dream come true"

"I want to go there and do my best with the team and go as far as we can because everyone will be watching our performance, me in particular, most Ghanaians will be interested. The focus is to excel and progress in my career ambition and get the Simba family happy, they’re very supportive and I hope not to let them down"

"Evelyn Badu is Evelyn Badu, I am Philomena Abakah, I'm not under any pressure to do what she did, as much as I want to do better which am sure and believe I can, her achievement is not what I look up to, I am more interested in what my team can achieve together, I can’t be what she did if Simba doesn’t go far in the tournament. The focus is the club, not individual accolades. If I get it, glory to God but there’s no pressure or competition to do what she did."

"Initially, when I came here, I was not okay, it was a bit challenging, food and language and being in a different setting [which] is normal when you go to a new club outside your country. But as time goes on, I’ve got to understand things here and settled well"

"We are not under any pressure. The drip we came to Morocco with should tell you we are okay. Everyone in the team is confident [that we can succeed]. We are not only here as representatives from East Africa, we are here to compete as well to fight for the crest and give our utmost best in this tournament"

"Personally, I’m not demotivated. We know the level of Women's football in our world. It’s getting the deserved attention now, so every opportunity should be taken. Hopefully, it gets better -- we played qualifiers not knowing what the reward will be"

"We are not only here as representatives from East Africa, we are here to compete as well to fight for the crest and give our outmost best in the tournament"

"I want to go there and do my best with the team and go as far as we can because everyone would be watching our performance and for me in particular, most Ghanaians will be interested"

"Personally, what drives me is my learning spirit at every point of my journey."

"My ultimate heroes are my older sisters, Afia Adoma Sarpong Baafi and Akua Sarpong, who have inspired me in many ways and cheer me on"

"I want to be the best at what I do and be named in the list of top 10 presenters on the African continent"

"I don’t want to stop until I am there, I just need to put up with the grind and keep going with one show at time, one audience at a time…"

"I am just going to do my best. I am going to represent Ghana to the fullest. I need the support of every single Ghanaian; they should support me in every possible way they can"