WOSPAG organises 'Ampe' competition

The second 'Ampe' competition organised by the Women's Sports Association of Ghana (WOSPAG) in collaboration with the National Sports Council (NSC) has ended at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

The competitors were categorised into age groups of between 10 and 15, 16- 25, 26-35 and 36-50 years.


In the 10 to 15 years age group, New Asafo group 'A' beat their group 'B' counterparts by one point to zero, while in the 16 to 25 years group, Amankwatia group 'B' beat their group 'C' counterparts by two points to nil.


In the 26 to 35 years group, Bethel Vocational Institute beat Free Port Keep Fit Club by two points to one and Female Prison Officers beat their Ghana Telecom Ladies in the 36 to 50 years group by two points to one.


Speaking after the competition, Mrs Elizabeth Quarmyne, Vice-President of WOSPAG, called on women to encourage the traditional games like 'ampe', which had gained recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).


She urged women in the regions to be actively involved in the promotion of the sport to attract more participation.

In a related development, WOSPAG has organised a day's workshop for Women Prison Officers, Market Women and Physical Education Masters in second-cycle schools in Ashanti at the Kumasi sports stadium.


The seminar, themed "Fraternisation and fitness of women and girls", was designed to get women and girls actively involved in sports to keep them fit and healthy.


Addressing the 52 participants, Mrs Theresa Baah, Headmistress of Kumasi Girls Secondary School, urged the Ministry of Youth and Sports to involve more women in sports administration.


She said women constituted about 52 per cent of the population and yet their involvement in sports was very meagre and stressed that if they were involved in the day-to-day sports administration, they could contribute immensely towards the promotion of sports.


Mrs Baah asked young girls particularly to be actively involved in sports so as to prevent them from getting pregnant and also to take their minds off sex, which could endanger their lives.

Mr Yaw Adu, Senior Sports Coach of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) noted that sports women faced a lot of challenges but they should strive to overcome these challenges.


Mrs Elizabeth Quarmyne, Vice-President of WOSPAG, asked women not just to take part in sports for leisure but in competitions like 'ampe'


Mr William Karikari, Ashanti Regional Sports Development Officer, pledged the support of the NSC for women and commended WOSPAG for the competition and seminar and asked the association to organise the same in all the regions.