Prudential Life Insurance Ghana officially launched the seventh edition of its flagship cycling event, PRURide, at a press briefing held this morning, July 14, 2026 at the University of Ghana Stadium VIP Room.
The event, themed around road safety, community participation, and healthy living, will unfold in two stages this August and September, with the insurer promising its most ambitious edition yet.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Jane Dornukuor Mingle, explained why the company continues to back the annual ride year after year.
“We write life insurance policies, so we believe in life staying healthy. So once life is healthy, we are running a very sustainable business,” Mingle said. “We are getting people to ride to stay healthy, so that we also have a very healthy portfolio.”
She noted that the seventh edition carries special significance, tying the number to the idea of completeness.
“This is the seventh edition, and seven, like we said, is for perfection. So we’re trying to do everything perfect this year,” she said, adding that for the first time, all road safety stakeholders have come on board to ensure participant safety.
Mingle also highlighted the growing role of the Sports Authority and other partners in guiding the insurer beyond its traditional expertise. “We write insurance, we are not experts in sports,” she admitted, stressing the value of partnerships in widening participation beyond professional riders to “ordinary men” and, notably, university students. “These are the youth. If they get into the spirit of cycling and that behaviour, it will also catch up with their families, and they will extend a wider [group of] people riding for safety and also for their own well-being.”
Richard Akpokavie, president of the Ghana Olympic Committee, praised Prudential’s continued investment in competitive cycling, describing regular competition as the single most valuable contribution of the annual event. “A lot of cyclists, they train, they do all kinds of things, but they need a lot of competition. This competition, regular, seven years, is good because you test your readiness for international competitions,” he said.
Akpokavie went further, urging Prudential to consider sponsoring Ghanaian cyclists to compete internationally. “I was encouraging them to take it beyond the competitions now, to see how they can send the athletes to international competitions representing Ghana… That will be good for them.”
He also used the platform to appeal directly to the public, particularly pedestrians and other road users who may encounter cyclists training or competing. Recalling a past tragedy, he underscored the real dangers cyclists face on Ghanaian roads. “If you recall, a few years back, one of the cyclists, the national captain, I believe, was killed… on the Deibiso road there somewhere. And that will tell you the dangers.”
He called for mutual respect between road users and event organisers. “It’s important that we respect the pedestrians. And when you see a cycling competition, there will be barriers, there will be police. Just respect what they are asking you to do so that we will all be safe. At the end of the day, we just want the people to ride, and it’s good for this country, good for the health of these young people.”
Kokui Bulley, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, laid out the structure of this year’s event, describing an edition designed to be more inclusive than ever.
“This year’s seventh edition promises to be very exciting because we are doing things differently to ensure that everybody gets the most out of the events,” Bulley said. “We would have two main events.”
The first is a community fun ride scheduled for Saturday, 22nd August 2026, at the University of Ghana, open to cycling enthusiasts, elite riders, families, groups, organisations, and children alike. Registration is free via the short code 778001#, with the event kicking off at 8:00 a.m. Participants have been advised to begin arriving by 7:00 a.m. Every participant will receive a medal for taking part.
The main, professional-tier event follows on Sunday, 6th September 2026, at Boteyman, starting at 12:00 p.m. Bulley explained the timing was deliberately chosen to accommodate churchgoers and families. “The reason for 12 p.m. is to give everybody the opportunity. Those who go to church, families, etc., would be done with their morning activities and join us,” she said, while inviting the general public to attend as spectators and supporters even though the main event is reserved for professional riders.
The stakes for competitors are high: male and female winners of the professional race will each walk away with a trophy and GH₵15,000.
| Event | Date | Time | Venue | Participation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fun Ride | 22 August 2026 | 8:00 a.m. | University of Ghana | Open to all; free registration via 778001# |
| Main Race | 6 September 2026 | 12:00 p.m. | Boteyman | Professional cyclists; open to spectators |
