Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Nortey Dua has said plans are far advanced to complete work on the National Sports Bill, which is expected to guide the overall development of sports in the country.

He said the passage of the Bill will place a special focus on Schools and Colleges sports, adding that the rejuvenation of the Polytechnic sports is very opportune since it has over the years' gone into the doldrums following the collapse of the National Academicals games. Nii Nortey Dua said this in Accra on Friday at the inaugural ceremony of the First Polytechnic Sports Association's (GHASPA) General Meeting and the launch of GHAPSA's 2010 Games scheduled to take place at the Ho Polytechnic from 30th January to 7th February, 2010.

The first General Meeting which is on the theme: "Polytechnic Sports Development: a proven agenda for national development in the second decade of the millennium", is in collaboration with the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics with support and funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Highlights of the meeting includes swearing in of the Executive Committee and official launching of the GHAPSA Games, a press conference and discussions of the main business of the General Assembly. Nii Nortey Dua said active participation in sports whether at the competitive or recreational levels promotes the good health and physical well-being of the individual and the society which needs to be supported. He said the Ministry in collaboration with the National Sports Council is working conscientiously to provide the needed infrastructure and promotion and development of sports at all levels, especially in the academic institutions.

The Deputy Minister urged the participants during the conference, to discuss issues and to look at fresh perspectives while the deliberations should focus on developmental issues rather on personalities. President of GHAPSA, Dr Ben E.K. Prah said the Association has the full support of the Rectors of Polytechnics because is student centred and aimed at utilising the talents and capabilities of Polytechnic students. Dr Prah stressed that discipline, coupled with academic work and hard training in the various sporting disciplines would be the goal of the Association and urged members to contribute their quota towards the success of the activities.

Mr Wolanya Agra, Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council prayed that the Polytechnic Games slated for Ho in the Volta Region would produce dedicated athletes who would merit eventual selection into the national youth teams to help improve the country's performances at international Games. He noted that sports is meant for all and so it is the Council's aim of identifying talents amongst the youth wherever they might be to be given the necessary training and facilities to develop into capable sports men and women.

Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Director of Sports, University of Ghana in a solidarity message on behalf of Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) urged the Association to use sports to attain peace, social integration, gender empowerment and the development of individuals, communities and the nation. He urged them to be creative and innovative and to improvise where necessary to be better placed to achieve their mission and vision of developing general sports at the Polytechnic level.