Ghanaian cyclist Emmanuel Akpor Adjei has etched his name into history by becoming the first African to complete a solo cycling journey from Munich, Germany, to Accra, Ghana, a distance of over 10,000 kilometers across 15 countries.
The 37-year-old sports scientist began his remarkable adventure on June 7, 2025, with the goal of raising €100,000 in support of EduSpots, an initiative dedicated to promoting education.
His journey took him through Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire, before finally reaching home soil.
Adjei admitted the ride pushed him to his physical and emotional limits, confessing there were moments when fear nearly forced him to quit. Yet his determination to inspire, build, and give back to education drove him forward.
On Friday, September 19, 2025, he arrived triumphantly at Accra’s Independence Square, greeted by cheering relatives, friends, and members of the public.
A durbar was later held at the forecourt of the Teshie Community Library the following day, where his community officially celebrated his accomplishment.
A native of Teshie, Adjei’s passion for cycling began at age 12 despite the lack of cycling infrastructure in Ghana.
After moving to Germany in 2012, he pursued higher education at the Technical University of Munich, where he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Sports and Exercise Science.
He now works at the university’s hospital in sports medicine and cardiology.
From his humble beginnings in Teshie to this groundbreaking feat, Adjei’s journey is being hailed as a symbol of African resilience.