Abeku Jackson Smashes Ghana National Record at Commonwealth Games as Semi-Final Hopes Hang in Balance
Ghanaian swimmer Abeku Jackson delivered a record-breaking performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, setting a new national mark in the men’s 50m backstroke during the heats.
Jackson touched the wall in 26.48 seconds, surpassing his previous personal best of 26.97 seconds while rewriting Ghana’s record books. His outstanding swim also erased the long-standing national record of 26.84 seconds, previously held by Jason Arthur.
The new mark underlines Jackson’s steady progress on the international stage and represents one of Ghana’s standout performances in the swimming competition so far.
Despite the historic swim, the Black Marlins athlete will have to wait before knowing whether he has secured a place in the semi-finals. His qualification now depends on the remaining heats, with his time placing him in contention as a potential reserve qualifier should other swimmers fail to post faster times.
Elsewhere, Ghana’s Nubia Adjei competed in the women’s 50m butterfly heats but was unable to advance after finishing eighth in her race with a time of 30.02 seconds.
Team Ghana’s campaign continues later in the day with two more athletes in action across different disciplines.
In boxing, Abdul Wahid Omar is scheduled to compete in the 65kg division, where he will be aiming to progress to the next stage of the tournament.
Ghana will also be represented in para powerlifting, with Haruna Tahiru set to contest the +110kg category as he looks to challenge for a place among the medal contenders.
The performances of Jackson and Adjei mark another busy day for Team Ghana, with the country’s athletes continuing their quest to make an impact at the Commonwealth Games while flying the national flag proudly on the international stage.
