Water polo is a sport that is not well known in many African countries, but Prince Asante Sefa-Boakye is determined to change that. Born in the United States to Ghanaian parents, Prince grew up in California, where he played water polo in high school and college. He went on to play professionally in Europe and Brazil, but his heart was always in Africa. In 2018, he introduced the sport to a local school in Ghana, where he discovered that most people were afraid of swimming in the ocean or open water due to a lack of experience or access to swimming lessons.
Despite these challenges, Prince persisted and today, he oversees a seven-team national league under the Awutu Winton Waterpolo Club in Ghana. His program has not only helped to promote the sport in the country but is also sparking interest in aquatic disciplines across Africa. Prince’s dream is to create the first-ever all-Black water polo team to compete at the Olympics, which would be a significant achievement for Ghana and Africa.
Prince’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, and he has been featured in numerous interviews and articles, including one by Olympics.com, where he spoke about his journey and the challenges he faced along the way. He also talked about the cultural barriers that exist and the lack of representation of Black athletes in water sports.
Despite being one of the few African American players in water polo, Prince has found a way to make the sport accessible to people in Ghana. He has done this by focusing on schools that have swimming facilities and expanding his reach as more people become interested. The majority of the ages that participate are between 10-17, but Prince hopes to expand the sport to adults as well.
Prince’s journey has not been easy, and he has faced many obstacles along the way. One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming the stigma around water and the lack of access to swimming lessons in Ghana. This has led to a high number of drowning cases in the country, with nearly 1,500 cases recorded in the past three years alone. Prince hopes that by introducing water polo to Ghana and Africa, he can help people overcome their fear of water and learn essential swimming skills that will help save lives.
Prince admits to being overwhelmed by the response to water polo amongst boys and girls in Ghana. He started by focusing on schools that had swimming facilities but has since expanded his reach.
“The majority of the ages are from about 16 to 25. That’s our biggest pool. And then we have some younger kids, probably from about seven to 7 to 13,” said Prince, who also has a thriving career as a musician.
“Some kids live by the streets. Some kids go to a free high school. Some kids are university athletes. Some kids whose parents are fishermen live by the lake or sea.”
Prince’s long-term goal is to create an all-Black water polo team that will represent Ghana and Africa at the Olympics. This is no small feat, as only two African countries, South Africa, and Egypt, have had the opportunity to field men’s water polo teams at the Olympics. However, Prince is determined to make this dream a reality, and he is already making significant progress towards achieving it.
Prince’s story is an inspiration to many, and it highlights the importance of promoting sports in underrepresented communities. By introducing water polo to Ghana, Prince has not only helped to spark interest in aquatic disciplines but has also helped people overcome their fear of water. His efforts are a testament to the power of sports and the transformative impact it can have on people’s lives. As Prince continues to work towards his goal of creating an all-Black water polo team for the Olympics, he is paving the way for the next generation of Black athletes and inspiring people around the world to pursue their dreams.
