In the vibrant heart of Osu, Accra, world-renowned contemporary artist Amoako Boafo is channelling his success back into the community, not just through paint and canvas, but on the clay courts. Long before he became a global icon in portraiture, Boafo was a tennis player and a ball boy. Today, he is leveraging that deep-rooted passion to invest in the next generation of West African tennis talent through his revolutionary Backyard Community Club.
The training facility, captured beautifully in action, is Ghana’s first regulation precast clay court. Designed by the acclaimed DeRoche Projects, the architectural masterpiece is constructed from highly unique, sculptural rammed-earth panels that create a beautiful play of light and shadow, filtering the intense Accra sun while absorbing tennis ball impacts with scientific precision. Flanked by a sustenance garden rich with fresh fruits and medicinal plants, the complex provides both professional-grade physical infrastructure and a nourishing environment where kids can focus entirely on their growth.
Boafo’s academy currently serves as a vital launchpad for competitive youth and junior regional champions. By providing free elite training, professional gear, and structured mentorship, Boafo is changing the narrative of tennis as an elite, inaccessible sport. His vision ensures that promising young athletes no longer have to look toward North Africa or overseas to find elite clay-court facilities; they have a world-rated training ground right in their own backyard.
“With Backyard, I hope to create a space where sport isn’t just about competition, but about confidence, connection, and self-expression. The court, like the studio, can be a place of creativity and growth.”
— Amoako Boafo
Through disciplined drills, intense coaching, and a sanctuary built purely out of local pride, these kids aren’t just learning how to strike a tennis ball; they are being groomed as the future heroes of African sports.
