Cycling legend Joseph Agalay Anan returns home after 18 years, honoured with 99km welcome ride

After nearly two decades in South Africa, Ghanaian cycling icon Joseph Anan, widely known as “Agalay,” has returned home. The Ghana Cycling Federation will celebrate his homecoming with a special 99-kilometre welcome ride on Sunday, 31st May 2026, set to coincide with the finale of the month-end Sunday Stars Race.

Anan, a former captain of Ghana’s national cycling team, the Golden Pedals, for over a decade, is a founding force behind the Sunday Stars Criterium—a 3.3km weekly circuit initiative designed to foster education, fitness, unity, and performance among cyclists in Accra and beyond.

His return follows an 18-year stay in South Africa, where he gained extensive experience that he now hopes to pour back into Ghanaian cycling. Anan arrived safely in Ghana on Wednesday as part of the first group of Ghanaian nationals assisted by the government following the Xalophoni attack.

The Ghana Cycling Federation has indicated that Anan’s expertise will be channelled into the Federation’s technical department as well as a proposed security services cycling initiative.

The welcome event is scheduled to begin at 7:30 am at the Osu Gate of the Accra Sports Stadium. Cyclists, veterans, fans, and sports stakeholders from across the country are expected to attend, making it a landmark celebration for a rider who devoted more than ten years to leading the national team.

Anan’s former teammates include Shaaban Mohammed (now Secretary General of the Federation), Wilberforce Quaye (Executive Member), Emmanuel Tetteh Wayo (now installed as Nene Odokor Osubor Odota II of Krobo Odumase), Yakubu Mohammed (Veejay), Christian Adiabo, Aminu Mohammed, Emmanuel Taylor, Rudolf Mensah (Equipment Director), William Afful (Red), Ayittey Akoto, Henry Tetteh Djangmah, Prosper Agbo, Richard Mawuko, John Zormelo, Francis Tetteh, as well as the late Joe Sackey, late Samuel Anim, and late William Torto.

Notably, Anan and Mohammed Aminu were among the first Ghanaian cyclists to represent the nation at the second edition of the Cape Epic mountain bike race, held on 2nd April 2005 in Knysna, South Africa.

Federation officials say the primary goal of Sunday’s ride is to create a platform for Anan to interact directly with young and veteran cyclists, share experiences, and help chart a path for the future development of the sport in Ghana.

The Ghana Cycling Federation invites all cycling enthusiasts and the general public to join this historic occasion.