NGO Games to be held in Ghana in October

The first ever “Ghana NGOs Games” has been penciled down for October and is expected to feature among others, Ghanaian and International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Development agencies, Social Clubs and Strategic Partners in the NGO world.

It is expected to come off at the El - Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Saturday October 5, 2013 and would be under the theme “Building Partnerships for Development”.

This maiden event is an initiative of ORPED Sports which is a subsidiary of ORPED Ghana.

A release from the secretariat said members of Staff of these organizations would engage in various sporting disciplines like football, basketball, volleyball, athletics, and a special ‘Development Game’ designed by the organizers among others.

The statement added: “By bringing all these organizations together ORPED Sports will use the opportunity to promote the international agenda of Sports for Development (SFD) in Ghana”.

It is expected that participating would deepen their work towards building the needed partnerships and discuss the use of sports as an effective tool in achieving development objectives in accordance with the eighth Millennium Development Goal which is to “Develop a global partnership for development”

The ‘Ghana NGOs Games’ will provide a common platform for NGOs to interact, network, exchange ideas, showcase their work and also provide a relaxing atmosphere for all participants, taking them away from their normal busy schedules.

It is hoped that participants will get to know what others are doing in the NGO world in Ghana and establish strong, healthy and sustainable relationships.

ORPED Ghana is an NGO established in 1995 that undertakes projects, programs and events geared towards the development of children all over Ghana.

ORPED Sports is the Sports for Development wing of ORPED Ghana and is into the organisation of sports based events; research and data building on SfD; training and capacity building and promoting and building partnerships for SfD.

ORPED Sports’ Star project is the “Million Balls” initiative which is in tandem with all FIFA World Cups. In 2008 and 2010 ORPED Sports used the gift of a soccer ball for children, young people, communities and institutions to promote reading, tree planting, peace building and talent enhancement with over 300,000 balls being distributed.

ORPED Sports believes that Sport serves as a uniting force and occupies an important role in human development, and like radio is a very powerful tool that can be used effectively for development.

Sport is about participation, inclusion and a sense of belonging, bringing individuals and communities together, highlighting commonalties and bridging cultural and ethnic divides.

These are virtues that almost all NGOs try to inculcate into the numerous communities where they operate.

NGOs wishing to participate in the Games can contact the ORPED Secretariat on phone 0508416985/0206722795 or by email to orpedsports_ghana@yahoo.com