- First National Bank Backs Return of 42.2km Accra Marathon in November
The First National Bank Accra Marathon will return in November with the restoration of its premier 42.2km full marathon and a redesigned route through the capital, as organisers seek to expand participation and strengthen long-distance running in Ghana. The 2026 edition will mark the fourth consecutive year of First National Bank Ghana’s partnership with organisers, the Dansoman Keep Fit Club. This year’s race will be held under the theme, Go the Distance.
The return of the full marathon marks one of the most significant changes to this year’s programme after the half marathon served as the event’s principal race over the previous two editions. Organisers said the expanded format is intended to create more competitive opportunities for elite runners while maintaining space for corporate teams, recreational athletes and younger participants. The event will also feature a 10km corporate open race and a junior category known as the Rising Star race.
Speaking at the launch, Sylvia Inkoom, Chief Executive Officer of First National Bank Ghana, said the bank’s continued support reflected its commitment to healthy lifestyles, resilience and community participation. She said the event had developed into a platform that brought together competitive sport, wellness and social engagement. “First National Bank is proud to once again support an event that celebrates health, endurance, resilience and community spirit,” she said.
Ms Inkoom said the marathon had also demonstrated the potential of sport to develop talent and create opportunities for Ghanaian athletes to compete internationally. She said the bank had seen the benefits of building healthier communities while helping nurture athletes capable of progressing to higher levels of competition. The partnership, she added, was also about bringing people together around a shared national sporting event.
A major operational change for the 2026 edition will be the introduction of a new race route. Ms Inkoom said the redesign was intended to improve the overall experience for runners and organisers while maintaining the event’s national appeal. “The route change will improve the experience while continuing to attract athletes from across the country,” she said.
Benjamin Ahulu, Chairman of the Dansoman Keep Fit Club, said the race would start and finish at the Accra Sports Stadium and take participants through some of the capital’s principal streets. The use of the national stadium as both the starting and finishing point is expected to provide a central focal point for competitors, spectators and event organisers. The new route will also form part of efforts to improve the organisation and visibility of the race.
Mr Ahulu confirmed that the 42.2km full marathon would return after two years in which organisers concentrated on the half-marathon format. He said the decision followed efforts to develop athletes through the shorter distance and prepare the event for the return of its premier category. “Having developed talent through the half marathon over the last two editions, we are bringing back the 42.2km race alongside the 10km corporate open race and junior race,” he said.
The expanded programme is intended to serve different levels of runners while strengthening the development pipeline for distance running in Ghana. Elite athletes will have access to the full marathon, corporate and recreational runners can compete over 10km, while younger athletes will be provided with a dedicated platform through the Rising Star event. Organisers hope that approach will broaden participation while creating a clearer pathway for promising runners.
Participants will compete for cash prizes, medals, souvenirs and other awards, with outstanding performers also eligible for fully sponsored opportunities to represent Ghana at an international marathon. That incentive could give the event greater competitive significance for athletes seeking exposure beyond the domestic circuit. For emerging runners in particular, access to international competition can provide experience and visibility that may be difficult to secure through local races alone.
The Accra Marathon is now in its fourth decade and has grown into one of the country’s largest road-running events. Organisers say it attracts more than 4,000 participants each year, including elite athletes, corporate teams, recreational runners and members of the general public. Its longevity has helped establish the event as a fixture on Ghana’s sporting calendar while giving sponsors a platform to associate with wellness, participation and community engagement.
For First National Bank, the partnership also reflects a wider corporate interest in initiatives that connect health, sport and social participation. Supporting a mass-participation event provides the bank with visibility beyond conventional financial services while aligning its brand with endurance, discipline and personal development. The 2026 edition will test whether the return of the full-distance race can deepen that engagement and attract a broader competitive field.
Registration for the 2026 First National Bank Accra Marathon is now open through eGotickets, while participants can also register using the event shortcode *713*33*11#. With the full marathon restored, a new route in place and multiple race categories on the programme, organisers are positioning this year’s edition as an important step in rebuilding Accra’s long-distance running tradition. The larger test will be whether the expanded format can translate growing participation into stronger athlete development and greater international competitiveness for Ghanaian distance runners.
