Glass walls, late nights: padel arrives in Accra

The first time I played padel was in a suburb of Madrid, on a work trip, jet-lagged and wearing borrowed shoes. Within twenty minutes I understood why it had taken over Spain. Within a week I was trying to work out how to get a court built in Accra.

I was not the only one. In 2024 the first proper glass courts opened in Airport City, and a sport almost nobody here had heard of suddenly had a waiting list.

Why it works here

Padel is doubles-only, which makes it inherently social. The walls keep the ball in play, so beginners have real rallies in their first hour. And the courts are small enough to be lit and played at night, when the heat finally breaks.

Padel is a conversation you have with three other people and two walls.

Our Monday intro sessions fill within an hour of opening. The monthly Americano regularly runs past ten. And in November, thirty-two pairs will play the second Accra Padel Open.