Sports festival for children held in Kumasi

Kumasi, June 3, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Sports Festival for children in nursery and kindergarten schools in the Kumasi Metropolis was held in Kumasi on Friday.

The festival organized by the Ashanti Regional branch of the Early Childhood Development Centres Association of Ghana (ECDCAG), was under the theme, "Harnessing The Learning Potentials Of Children". The festival, the first of its kind, saw the children from 38 schools competing in poetry and rhymes recital, sack race, bottle picking, musical chairs and lime and spoon race.

The children who excelled in various disciplines were later presented with drinks, toffees and pokies.

Mr Stephen Ofosu-Darfour, Ashanti Regional Assistant Co-ordinator of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC), said children who are most vulnerable are also important assets for future development. He therefore appealed to adults to provide them with the enabling environment to enable them demonstrate their creative skills. Mr Ofosu-Darfour said the government=92s Early Childhood Care and Development Policy is to cater for children from the ages of one to eight years and urged all stakeholders of the policy to support its implementation to ensure the survival, protection and growth of children.

Mrs Ellen Takyi-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinator of the Early Childhood Care and Development of the Ghana Education Service (GES), stressed the need for parents to help improve the learning ability of children at all times.

She commended the ECDCAG for initiating the festival and asked that it be continued to become an annual event to help develop the potentials of children in sporting activities.

Mr Samuel Oppong, Chairman of the Association said it aims among others at promoting and safeguarding the interest and welfare of members with the view of providing a range of services to ensure survival and growth of children. 03 June 06