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Other Sports of Sunday, 28 September 2008

Source: GNA

Azumah Nelson Foundation launched

Accra, Sept, 28, GNA - Ghana's boxing legend 'Professor' Azumah Nelson on Saturday introduced a charity foundation dubbed the Azumah Nelson Foundation (AZNEF) at its official launch in Accra. The Foundation is aimed at providing social services to the poor and needy through the use of sports and education. The project, which will be housed on a 50 acre land at Akuse in the Easter Region, will be equipped with modern sports and educational facilities at an estimated cost of 23,444,960 USD. AZNEF will also provide vocational training to the disadvantaged in the society with periodic health and sanitation assistance to the rural poor in Ghana.

The project will also serve as a youth leadership training centre in a bid to make the youth realise their God given potential. Launching the Foundation, Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports commended the boxing legend for his laudable idea saying it will go a long way in complimenting the efforts of government in fulfilling her development projects to society. Mr Amoah announced that government has initiated steps to construct sports complexes for sporting disciplines, such as boxing, volleyball, table tennis and badminton in various parts of the country as part of efforts to identify and groom talents in those sporting fields. He pledged the support of government to the Foundation to enable it achieve it goals and objectives.

'Barima' Azumah Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation described the Project as the second journey in his life after a successful boxing career.

"It is the most important moment in my life, because it has taken me years to reach this stage", he stated.

The Ghanaian boxing legend said the Project also forms part of his contribution towards the development of the society. The Foundation is manned by a six member Executive Council led by Paul Victor Obeng, a former politician and administrator. Other members are Azumah Nelson, Peggy Nelson, Dorinda Nelson and Freddie Annan.