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Mrs. Beatrice Kwaakye, a remarkable draughts player Asankran Odumase, a small community within the Amenfi West Municipality of Ghana’s Western Region, is challenging the status quo. Mrs. Beatrice Kwaakye, fondly known as Ante Bee within her community, has issued a bold call for a national draughts challenge specifically for women. This challenge comes on the heels of a resounding victory against Agya Tawiah, a local draughts player, further cementing her reputation as the undisputed draughts queen of Asankran Odumase.
The decisive match, held on Saturday, February 15th, 2025, saw Ante Bee dominate Agya Tawiah in two rounds. She clinched the first round with a score of 5-3 and followed it up with an even more convincing 5-1 victory in the second. This victory solidified her status as the best draughts player in the community. Impressed spectators hailed her skill and strategic prowess, expressing their fervent desire to witness her compete on national and even international stages.
Speaking to Pazion TV/Media after her triumphant victory, Ante Bee revealed her lifelong passion for draughts, a game she has cherished since her teenage years. However, her enthusiasm is tempered by frustration with the perceived lack of prioritization of women in sports within Ghana. “Unfortunately, the leaders and sports ministry do not prioritise women in games competition as they always focus on men. The only game they consider women is football but even that the Ghana premier league does not allow women to participate,” she lamented. This perceived bias, she argues, hinders the development and recognition of female talent in mind sports like draughts.
Ante Bee passionately advocates for a shift in perspective, urging the government and relevant stakeholders to actively include women in all games and sporting events within Ghana. She firmly believes that women possess innate intelligence and a natural aptitude for games requiring critical thinking and strategic reasoning, qualities perfectly suited for draughts.
The local draughts queen’s own experience serves as a poignant example of the untapped potential. She shared that she was also a talented footballer during her school days, but her skills were never fully nurtured due to the same systemic issues she highlighted. Ante Bee’s story is a powerful reminder of the need to provide equal opportunities and support for women in all fields, including sports.
Her call for a national draughts challenge is more than just a personal ambition; it’s a rallying cry for gender equality in Ghanaian sports. It is a challenge to recognize the talent and potential of women like Ante Bee, the Asankran Odumase Unbeatable Draughts Queen, who are ready to break the board and make their mark on the national and international stage. Her message is clear: Ghanaian women are ready to compete, they are ready to excel, and they are demanding the opportunity to prove it.
