The Women Sports Association of Ghana (WOSPAG) on Wednesday launched the first-ever traditional ‘Okonto Ampe’ game at competitive level at the Accra Sports Stadium. Consequently a competition has been scheduled for April 12 at the Accra Sports Stadium by WOSPAG to formally make it one of the sporting disciplines under the National Sports Council (NSC).
Launching the game, Mrs Gertrude Opare Addo of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and a regular hostess of GBC's radio programme "woman to woman" expressed joy about the recognition being given to women in sports now. She urged women to use this opportunity to improve upon their performances to win laurels for themselves and for the nation. Mrs Opare Addo called on the media to give equal attention to women in sports as they do to the men.
Dr Debora Cubagee, chairman of the association said the picking up of the Okonto Ampe game was based on a request made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through the Ghana Olympic Committee as a way of promoting traditional women's game in Africa. Dr Cubagee expressed the hope that Ghana would be able to fashion out this game well enough for it to become one of the IOC games to be competed in.
She also entreated the press to give women a fair chance in their coverage, so as to encourage more girls to participate in sports. Dr Cubagee took the opportunity to outline the association's programme for the year, which include leadership training programme for members in the regions, workshop for female coaches, trainers and officials among others. Okonto ampe is a traditional game in Ghana, which is mostly played by females of all ages and can be used as a warming-up exercise for other games.
