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The Western Regional inter-districts athletics championship has been held successfully on Saturday, February 13, 2021.
The event was to select the best of athletes to represent the Western Region in the upcoming National cross country event to be held at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region on February 18-20, 2021.
Fourteen administrative districts and municipalities were supposed to participate in the highly competitive event but only six turned up with 42 male and 44 female athletes.
It was a ten kilometer journey from Gyandu Park through the principal streets of Sekondi and finally finished off at the Sekondi Sports Stadium.[ads2]
After almost two hours of endurance, speed energetic journey, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the Effia/Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) conquered the male and female categories respectively.
In the female division, Tarkwa-Nsuaem finished sixth with 70 points followed by Wassa East with 57 points whiles Ahanta West came third with 55 points with STMA placing second with 46 points while EKMA finished first with 27 points.
In the male division, Tarkwa-Nsuaem once gains finished sixth with 113 points followed by Ahanta West with 112 points then Ellembele with 67 points.Wassa East came third whiles EKMA finished second with 52 points and STMA as first with 27 points.
At the overall positions, Ellembele were 6th with 211 points, Tarkwa-Nsuaem were 5th with 183 points then Ahanta West with 165 placing 4th with Wassa East placing 3rd with 115 points whiles EKMA finished 2nd with 79 points and STMA as 1st with 73 points.[ads3]
Individually, Rosemary Arthur from STMA was adjudged the best athlete in the female division while 14-year old Florence Otiwaa from Tarkwa-Nsuaem came second and Alice Yankey as the third best athlete.
At the male division, Mark Owusu from EKMA was named the third best athlete, Solomon Akudugu from STMA came second and Raja Labele who represented none of the districts was the overall best athlete in the male division..
After the event, sixteen athletes, eight each from the male and female categories were selected to be camped and trained with six each to represent the Western Region in the upcoming National cross country in Sefwi Wiawso.
At the female division, Rosemary Arthur (STMA), Florence Otiwaa (Tarkwa-Nsuaem), Alice Yankey, Mashard Mubarak, Monica Tibogobi , Ernestina Ebi, Mary Boah and Susan Bassaw were selected for camping while Raja Labele, Solomon Akudugu, Mark Owusu, Samuel Sakyi, Atom Godwin, Emmanuel Frimpong, Akumeah Arthur and John Abugri were the selected athletes from the male division.[ads4]
Speaking at the ceremony, the Western Regional Sports Director, Mr. Joseph Alarbi Bortey explained the rationale behind the organization of the event, stating categorically that the event is to create opportunities for talents in the Western Region to represent the region at the National Cross country in Sefwi Wiawso.
He congratulated the sixteen athletes selected for camping and urged the others to intensify their training for the next event. He also urged cooperate bodies to support sports in the region which will create opportunities for talents across the length and breath of the region.
Mr. Alarbi Bortey was grateful to sponsors like Nero Mineral Water, the various districts sports directors, the Western Regional Minister Dr. Kobby Okyere-Darko, Western Regional Sports Committee chairman Hon. Wilson Arthur as well as the participants, the media for a successful event on Saturday morning..
Adding his voice was the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kobby Okyere-Darko who was grateful for the invitation and the performance of the various athletes and support from the media in the region.
He said that sports is the only way to create new opportunities for talents in the region and the ability to ensure it becomes sustainable. He believes it is the mandate of the authorities in the region to ensure the region produce the best of sports talents to the country.
Dr. Okyere-Darko added that “developing Ghana sports means sports in the Western Region is developed, since the Western Region has produced great sports personalities who contributed greatly to the success of the country in the area of sports.”
He urged the various districts sports directors to have in their projection, the training of long distance runners for bigger marathons. He was also grateful to Nero Mineral Water and other sponsors for supporting the event.
Hon. Wilson Arthur who is also the District Chief Executive of Wassa East was excited about how the participants adhered to the Covid-19 protocols, a devastating disease which has killed millions globally.
Present at the event was the Western Regional Minister; Hon. Kobby Okyere-Darko, Western Regional Sports Director; Mr. Joseph Alarbi Bortey, Chairman of Western Region Sports Committee; Hon. Wilson Arthur, Regional PE Coordinator; Mr. Kweku Kwarteng, Personal Assistant to the Regional Minister; Charles Cobbinah, Metro PE Coordinator; Mr. Victor Fermeh and host of other dignateries.
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