Ministry of Youth and Sport distribute footballs to SHS in UE

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Ministry of Youth and Sports has presented over 2,000 footballs to the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council for onward distribution to all senior high/technical schools [SHS] and all district and municipal assemblies in the region. Mr. Michael Frimpong, Public Relations Officer handed over the items to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo at brief ceremony in Bolgatanga. The items are to be distributed to each Senior High School as well as Municipal and District Assemblies to help in the development of sports, especially soccer in their respective districts. Mr. Frimpong said the ministry has already done similar distributions other regions across the country and is working to distribute other sports kits in the future. The Regional Minister commended the Ministry of Youth and Sports for its efforts at sports development at the senior high school level noting that, the move will produce the needed young and energetic footballers to replace the current ones in the national male and female teams many of whose players are ageing. Mr. Woyongo noted with worry that many youth in the region’s schools and districts hitherto used improvised footballs in their training sessions and hoped the presentation by the youth and sports ministry will go a long to whip up the youth’s interests in the game and also enhance sports development in general. He cautioned sports masters at the schools not to sell the footballs or keep them to themselves while asking students to combine both sports and academics effectively. According to Mr. Woyongo, sport, especially football is big business in today’s world and commended some basic school pupils who won several prizes at the just ended Milo Marathon in Accra. He also congratulated the Black Maidens for their feat in the just ended Women’s Under-17 World Cup and encouraged young girls to participate actively in football saying the game is not exclusive to men only. The Upper East Regional Physical Education Coordinator at the Ghana Education Service, Mr. Thomas Awiah expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the gesture but appealed for the provision of adequate support for other sport disciplines such as hockey, hand ball, table tennis and others in order to develop the youth in all the areas of sports available in the country. Mr. Awiah said all the 23 public senior high and technical schools, 11 private SHS, three community SHS and other technical/ vocational schools will all receive the footballs. -end- benjamin.glover@graphic.co.gh