The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay has arrived in Ghana, reaching the 6th destination out of the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories it will be visiting.
Arriving from Sierra Leone, the Baton has officially touched down at Kotoka International Airport.
The Queen’s Baton, which carries a message from Her Majesty the Queen, arrived in Ghana as part of its journey to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in England from 28 July until 8 August 2022.
The Queen’s Baton is in Ghana for 3 (three) days and during it’s time here, it will be carried by Baton bearers, including current and legacy athletes, and will visit Jubilee House, Manhyia Palace, Rattray Park, Adinkra Village at Ntonsu, and Bonwire Tourist Centre and experience Ghana culture and way of life.
President of CGA, Mr. Ben Nunoo-Mensah, said: “It is fantastic to have the Baton arrive in Ghana today. Its arrival signifies an exciting moment in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and I’m really looking forward to the various visits and activities during its time here.”
British High Commissioner, H.E. Harriet Thompson said: “it is a tremendous honour and a genuine pleasure to welcome Her Majesty the Queen’s Baton in Ghana after arriving from our friends in Sierra Leone. The Baton is making an incredible journey, visiting 72 Commonwealth nations and territories ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2022 held in Birmingham next summer.
Our partners at Ghana’s Commonwealth Games Association have planned an amazing few days for the Baton Team, which will not only represent a celebration of sport and the coming Games but will also show Ghana at its very best. We look forward to welcoming Team Ghana and Teams from across the Commonwealth to Birmingham to the Games next year.”
The Queen’s Baton will be carried by H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is President of the Republic of Ghana.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will visit:
Jubilee House (Presidential Palace) -25th October, 2021, El-Walk Sport Stadium - 26th October, 2021, Tema Fishing Harbour - 26th October, 2021, Manhyia Palace -27th October, 2021, Adinkra Village, Bonwire Tourist Centre - 27th October, 2021.
Since its inaugural appearance at the Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay has been a tradition for the Commonwealth Games.
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay started at Buckingham Palace on 7 October 2021, when Her Majesty the Queen placed her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist and Team England athlete Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Baton bearers to carry the Baton through the Commonwealth.
The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay is an epic journey covering the entirety of the Commonwealth as it will travel to all 72 nations and territories, covering a distance of 140,000 kilometres.
For 269 days, the Baton will travel to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, before it embarks on the final stretch of its journey across England for 25 days.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will complete its journey at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022.
This is a traditional and fundamental part of the Games and the Opening Ceremony, as the final Batonbearer will pass the Baton back to The Queen.
The Queen’s message to the Commonwealth will then be removed from the Baton and read aloud, marking the official start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
About the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Games tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities from across Commonwealth during the build up to the Games.
Birmingham 2022 is staging the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – an epic journey across the Commonwealth, with The Queen’s Baton visiting all 72 nations and territories, reaching Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas.
The Relay will begin on 7 October 2021 at a special event at Buckingham Palace, where Her Majesty The Queen will place Her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton.
The Baton will travel for 294 days, visiting all 72 nations and territories and connecting communities in every corner of the Commonwealth, embracing unique cultures and sharing stories.
This collective journey will ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration for the next generation, with these stories leaving us all inspired to take on the challenges that matter most to us.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region, and its people on the global stage.
The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.
Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.
Full schedule of the Queen’s Baton Relay international route:
Nation / Territory
Live date
1. Cyprus
9 October 2021
2. Malta
12 October 2021
3. Nigeria
16 October 2021
4. The Gambia
20 October 2021
5. Sierra Leone
23 October 2021
6. Ghana
26 October 2021
7. Cameroon
29 October 2021
8. Kenya
2 November 2021
9. Uganda
5 November 2021
10. Rwanda
10 November 2021
11. Tanzania
13 November 2021
12. Malawi
17 November 2021
13. Zambia
20 November 2021
14. Mozambique
23 November 2021
15. Mauritius
27 November 2021
16. Botswana
30 November 2021
17. St. Helena
5 December 2021
18. South Africa
8 December 2021
19. Namibia
14 December 2021
20. Eswatini
17 December 2021
21. Lesotho
20 December 2021
22. Seychelles
23 December 2021
23. Pakistan
27 December 2021
24. Maldives
1 January 2022
25. Sri Lanka
4 January 2022
26. Bangladesh
7 January 2022
27. India
12 January 2022
28. Singapore
17 January 2022
29. Malaysia
22 January 2022
30. Brunei
26 January 2022
31. Papua New Guinea
30 January 2022
32. Solomon Islands
2 February 2022
33. Nauru
5 February 2022
34. Fiji
13 February 2022
35. Samoa
16 February 2022
36. Tonga
19 February 2022
37. Vanuatu
22 February 2022
38. Kiribati
25 February 2022
39. Tuvalu
28 February 2022
40. Niue
3 March 2022
41. Cook Islands
6 March 2022
42. Norfolk Island
9 March 2022
43. New Zealand
12 March 2022
44. Australia
17 March 2022
45. Belize
23 March 2022
46. Guyana
26 March 2022
47. Grenada
30 March 2022
48. The Bahamas
3 April 2022
49. Turks & Caicos
7 April 2022
50. Cayman Islands
12 April 2022
51. Jamaica
15 April 2022
52. Trinidad & Tobago
19 April 2022
53. Barbados
23 April 2022
54. Montserrat
26 April 2022
55. Dominica
29 April 2022
56. British Virgin Islands
3 May 2022
57. St. Kitts & Nevis
6 May 2022
58. Anguilla
9 May 2022
59. Antigua & Barbuda
13 May 2022
60. St. Lucia
16 May 2022
61. St. Vincent & The Grenadines
19 May 2022
62. Bermuda
22 May 2022
63. Canada
26 May 2022
64. Gibraltar
31 May 2022
65. Falkland Islands
7 June 2022
66. Jersey
10 June 2022
67. Guernsey
13 June 2022
68. Isle of Man
16 June 2022
69. Scotland
18 June 2022
70. Northern Ireland
24 June 2022
71. Wales
29 June 2022
72. England
4 July 2022
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith