Give Golf & other sports disciplines their share of national cake - Otumfuo

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has called on the government to accord Golf and other less supported sports disciplines equal attention and support.

Governments over the years have been accused of focusing on the development of mainly football to the neglect of other sports disciplines.

Otumfuo’s call comes in at a time when the Akufo Addo-led government has pledged to focus more on other sports in his regime.

The King of the Asante kingdom made this call at the closing ceremony of the 60th Vodafone Asantehene Open golf championship which is an annual championship organized in his honour.

‘You don’t have to be a professor in economics to know the benefits Golf gives to a nation’s economy. It is a proven stimulant to economic growth and yet Ghana seem unconcerned to let this opportunity slip’

‘I have had an assurance from the sports minister Isaac Asiamah just this afternoon that Golf will be receiving its fair share of funding from his ministry but let me still appeal to him and the government for a new direction in sports policy to provide for fairness in the support of sports like athletics, boxing, tennis and other disciplines and for the reintegration of sports into our educational system,’ he appealed.

This year’s event was filled with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II doing the ceremonial Tee-Off on Wednesday with the managing director of Vodafone, Yolanda Cuba.

After four days of golfing, golfers from the hosting Royal Golf club dominated the awards with Kwabena Poku emerging winner Maxwell Owusu Bonsu second in the Men scratch.

In the ladies scratch, Constance Awuni won with Felicity Okyere Gyeabour placing second.

In the ladies support division, Juddy Donkor-Baah from Royal Golf Club emerged winner with Mercy Ampofo as runner-up.

This year’s Championship which was sponsored by Vodafone Ghana ended with the Managing Director of Vodafone Yolanda Cuba announcing an extension of the sponsorship for the event for five more years.