A youth activist from the Upper East Region, Dennis Apusika, has described the excruciating pain he endured on his 27-day walk from Bolgatanga to Accra as a symbol of the neglect and struggles faced by the youth of the region due to poor sporting infrastructure.
Dennis, who covered an astonishing 785 kilometers in his campaign for a modern sports stadium in the Upper East, arrived at the Black Star Square in Accra on Sunday, August 17, 2025, to a warm reception led by the Chief Executive of the National Youth Authority, Osman Ayariga.
Speaking about his journey, Dennis admitted that the physical pain was intense, but it carried a deeper meaning.
“When I started the walk, the pain in my body was unbearable. But this pain represents the years of abandoned and incomplete sports facilities in the Upper East Region. I endured it because I know the youth of my region have endured worse – years of being denied a proper stadium to develop their talent,” he explained.
According to Dennis, his journey was not just about endurance but about advocacy. “I want government and stakeholders to understand that this is not about me. It is about thousands of young people who love football and other sports but have no facility to harness their skills. My pain is their pain. This walk is a cry for change.”
He revealed that the idea was born out of a casual comment he made about walking if Paris Saint-Germain lost to Chelsea during the FIFA Club World Cup. But instead of treating it as a joke, Dennis turned it into a campaign with purpose. “I decided to use the comment to highlight the plight of my people. And so I walked through sun, rain, and exhaustion.”
Dennis’s journey has already drawn nationwide attention to the long-standing call for a befitting sports facility in the region. He expressed hope that his pain would inspire both leaders and the youth.
The Chief Executive of the National Youth Authority, Osman Ayariga, praised Dennis for his bravery and determination, saying his sacrifice was a powerful reminder of the urgent need to invest in sports infrastructure across Ghana.
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