President John Dramani Mahama has pledged government support to elevate the ABSA Black Star Marathon into a premier marathon event on the African continent.
Speaking at the 2025 edition of the marathon held on Saturday, July 26, President Mahama affirmed the government’s commitment to partner with ABSA and other sponsors to grow the event’s scale and impact.
“The Black Star Marathon has become a part of Ghana’s tourism experience, and we have labelled it the Black Star Experience. I am lending my presence to it today to show how important this project is for us, and I’m happy to see this beautiful turnout with these athletes,” he said.
President Mahama praised the dedication of participants and reflected on the spirit of the race. “I admire all of you who attempt to do it. Run at your own pace, it takes strategy to run a marathon,” he said. “It’s enough just to be part of the experience, and I wish all of you luck.”
He also assured athletes and fans that the next edition will come with enhanced incentives. “For those of you who ran competitively, I wish to assure you that with the government coming in and working with Absa and all the sponsors, next year the prize money is going to be very good for all the different categories,” he announced.
President Mahama further revealed that the marathon is being formally integrated into Ghana’s official tourism calendar, noting that the state sees it as a valuable platform for tourism promotion and national branding.
“Government is going to work with ABSA to make this the best marathon in Africa,” he affirmed.
The 2025 ABSA Black Star Marathon drew athletes from 28 countries and continues to grow in both scale and significance, combining sports, health advocacy, and tourism into a singular national experience