JICA marks 30 years with Basketball tourney

Accra, Aug .13, GNA - Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will mark its 30 years of volunteerism in Ghana with a basketball clinic and a tournament for selected institutions in the northern sector of the country.

The event, which is slated for August 22 - 25, will have seven schools from the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions participating.

Madam Miyaki Sumi, Volunteer Coordinator of the Japanese Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), who announced the package to the National Sports Council (NSC) on Wednesday said her outfit had doled out about GH=A25,600 (=A256 Million) towards the organisation of the tourney.

She said the clinic was geared towards their objective of supporting the development of sports, especially in some deprived communities in Ghana.

Madam Sumi introduced five volunteers to the NSC, who will be assisting in the successful organisation of the tournament, with the technical support of Yoichi Ishida, a basketball trainer. She said over the past three decades, not less than 900 volunteers had visited Ghana under the organisation's volunteering scheme and assisted in various ways.

Mr Bills Awuakye, immediate past, Regional Sports Development Officer (RSDO) commended JICA for their support towards the development of sports in the country. He pledged the council's support in the quest to make the event realise its goals.

Prior to the 30 years anniversary, the NGO will engage in clean up exercise at Osu and its environs.