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The Effia/Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) has been adjudged overall winners of the 2022 Western Region Inter-District Cross Country held on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
EKMA accumulated 96 points to emerge winners of the 10Km race ahead of ten other districts who took part of the event.
Speaking at the event, the Western Regional Sports Director of the National Sports Authority, Joseph Alabi Bortey stated that the objective of the event is to select twelve best athletes that will represent the region in the upcoming National Cross Country slated for February 19-17, 2022 at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region.
He explained the twelve selected athletes were drawn from both the male and female categories for camping before traveling to Akim Oda for the national cross country.[ads2]
“The NSA is also planning to organise GNPC athletics competition with the date to be announced later”, he added.
Mr Alabi reiterated the NSA is determined to support in developing and building the careers of the young athletes in the Western Region hence the introduction of the athletics competitions.
He was grateful to the various stakeholders and sponsors including Goil, Global Splash, Western Regional Police Command , National Ambulance Service, Ghana Education Service for a successful second edition of the Western Region Inter-District Cross Country.
Meanwhile, Wassa East duo of Vivian Nartey and Perpetual Mbiem came first and third respectively in the female division with Lydia Taana from Nzema East finishing second. Peter Dzitse, Prince Quaicoe from EKMA finished first and third respectively in the male category while STMA’s Solomon Akurugu placed second.[ads3]
EKMA came first in the male category with 19 points while STMA and Wassa East placed second and third with 31 and 69 points respectively. Wassa East finished first with 29 points followed by Ahanta West and Amenfi West with 43 and 56 points respectively.
The Western Region Sports Committee, Wilson Arthur was elated with the performance of the various districts who participated in the event and highlighted the need for cooperate bodies to invest in the development of sporting talents in the region.
He entreated the twelve selected athletes to train harder and make Western Region proud in the upcoming national cross country event in Akim Oda in order to be selected into Ghana’s team for the 2023 African Games to be held in the country.
The STMA mayor, Abdul Mumin Issah urged various districts sports directors to have interest in organising programs that will help unearth sporting talents in the region.
He reiterated the STMA readiness to support sports development in the region and encouraged athletes to take personal training seriously.[ads4]
The Chief Director of the Western Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Frederick Agyemang on behalf of the Regional Minister Dr Kwabena Otchere-Darko, congratulated the athletes for an impeccable performance and implored the selected athletes to win the national cross country for the Western Region after placing fourth and fifth respectively in the last edition of the competition.
He continued that, “Government is committed in raising the standard of sports development in the region.”
In all 127 athletes comprising of 67 males and 60 females participated in the competition. Athletes were presented certificates of participation with the winners receiving cash prizes trophy among others.[ads5]
