Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, has said government would start overhauling the country’s sporting facilities and infrastructure in the coming year.
The Deputy Minister said government is also considering several partnerships with the private sector for the development of sports and sporting facilities across the country.
A press release issued by Emmanuel Arthur, Corporate Affairs Manager of Rlg Company and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the Deputy Minister was speaking at the opening of the Kumasi Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix is an international track and field event which attracted over 35 foreign athletes and 60 locally based Ghanaian athletes in a four-hour international athletics competition at the Baba Yara Stadium.
The statement said among the foreign athletes included an American team comprising Nichole Denby (100m hurdles), Alie Israel (100m/200m), Shericka Mozell (100m/100m hurdles), Jarod Tobler (Long Jump) and Terrell Wilks (100m/200m).
Dr Omane Boamah said the 2012 rlg Ghana Grand Prix took place under the distinguished patronage of President John Evans Atta Mills and it is part of the Ghana Athletics Association’s efforts towards revitalizing athletics in Ghana and encouraging the young ones to take an interest in the sport.
The Deputy Minister said the success of the program was due to the sponsorship offered by Rlg which also ensured the success of the last year’s grand prix in addition to funding the ECOWAS games last month and the refurbishment of the rlg/Hithramani Sports Complex at the Accra Sports Stadium.
He appealed to corporate Ghana to emulate the Rlg example of giving back to society and supporting central government’s developmental agenda.
The event also served as warm up for athletes ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
Mr. Kojo Bonsu, Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority said his outfit was doing everything possible to ensure the growth and development of lesser-known sporting disciplines with focus on unearthing young talents at the school levels.
Mr. Samuel Sarpong, Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, said the hosting of the international event has enhanced the image of athletics and sports in general in the region and commended Rlg communications for their laudable effort.
Mr. David Afugani, Chief Operating Officer of Rlg Communications, said the company was committed towards the development of sports saying “these supports are part of a bigger dream to ensure skills and talents are built among our youth”, he added.**
