Accra, April 14, GNA - A Patron of the Fudu Ki Kai (Black Stealth) Karate Academy Mr Daniel Okai, has stressed the need to promote other sporting disciplines apart from football to bring more honours to the country.

Mr Okai noted that Ghana has a lot of talents in sports, which if developed could put the country on the international map and enable the youth to compete in competitive tournaments to ensure the development of the nation by lifting high the flag of the country.

The Patron who is also the Chairman of the Odododiodioo Constituency of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) said it development of other less known sports would also occupy the youth in more productive ventures and dissuade them from anti social vices. Mr Okai who was speaking at a ceremony in Accra when eight Karateka (Karatists) of the Academy were elevated to higher levels in the sport in Accra, added that "The devil finds work for the idle hands" and noted that the youth as the future leaders of the country need to be occupied with productive ventures to play their expected roles more effectively,. The Patron who is also a Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly observed that sports apart from keeping the youth healthy and strong would also enable them develop their intellectual and physical capabilities and help make them more disciplined. He stressed the need to encourage more young people to take to martial arts to develop their bodies, mind and endurance since he noted the sports also fosters the spirit of nationalism and patriotism, which was essential for socio-economic development.

The Sensei (Chief Instructor) of the Academy, Mr George Slater Commodore, before the examination, gave a brief of the history of the sport and said it was good for co-ordination in children to know their intellectual capabilities to broaden their ideas and to keep them smart and healthy.

He described the Academy as a place for character building to keep the ego of the youth busy and to instill in them the spirit to work together.

Eight karatekas of the Academy were elevated to higher grades after going through the exercise successfully.

Prince Aidoo, David Vijay and Aaron Afutu, holders of the white with red stripe were promoted to Yellow Belt holders while Gabriel Okai was elevated from the White belt to Yellow belt. Gilbert Amegah and Aaron Abbey, holders of Yellow belt gained promotion to Green belts with Mike Peprah, a Green belt advancing to a Blue belt while Bernard Dzikunu, a Purple belt holder was promoted to a Brown belt holder.

They were examined by Saadisu Mahama Idrissu, Isaac Amponsah and Ade Sawyer, all Black belt holders of the Ghana Karate Association and Maxwell Borquaye, also a Black belt holder and the Assistant Instructor of the Academy.