Documenting the emotional and social dimension of sport in Ghana.

What Holds Us

Intro

What Holds Us is a long-term documentary photography project exploring the emotional and social dimensions of sport in Ghana beyond competition.

Developed between 2023 and 2026, the project examines the role sport takes on when other forms of support are absent, inaccessible, or fragile. In many of the communities documented, sport functions as more than physical activity. It becomes a place of belonging, structure, mentorship, emotional expression, and collective identity.

Combining documentary photography, interviews, and field research, What Holds Us asks what remains when institutions fail, opportunities are limited, or support systems are missing. It looks at sport as a social infrastructure, one that can provide stability, connection, and a sense of future.

A central aspect of the project is its focus on locally led initiatives. Rather than looking at change through the lens of external intervention, What Holds Us highlights the people and communities creating opportunities from within and the role sport plays in supporting these efforts.

The resulting photobook brings together photographs, personal stories, and research collected over three years, offering an in-depth look at the people, relationships, and initiatives that shape the social world around sport in Ghana.

Featuring Voices

Francis Kwofie

SURF COORDINATOR & ATHLETE OF SURF GHANA

“Surf Ghana has played a significant role in shaping Ghana’s surf culture, promoting social inclusion, creativity, environmental awareness, and community engagement. For me, the goal is to be known internationally, meet likeminded people and travel around.”
David Lartey

TEACHER, SOCCER PLAYER & COACH

“What sports does to a person is it teaches discipline, it teaches you a lot about life and keeps you away from negative distractions. My goal for my students is to see them at the top and give them the opportunities I didn't have.”
Justice Kwofie

FOUNDER OF OBIBINI GIRLS + JUSTICE BROTHERS

“We live by the Ocean but we didn’t know how to swim, that had to change. At first people said we were crazy. If you want to do something great in Ghana, you have to be strong. If we had listened to them, we would have stopped. But we didn’t and now the girls are even teaching surfing to the boys.”
Caleb Mensah

ATHLETE OF BESESAKA BOX CLUB
“I was very lonely in the house, always studying my books but when I started boxing I got to be known around the area. Even if my mother tries to stop me a hundred times, I will still be boxing. Because it is what I love.”
Abigail

HEAD OF LEADERSHIP AT BESESAKA
“Boxing teaches resilience, boldness and courage. No matter what happens at home, they wake up smiling ready to face the world.”