Wa, Aug. 31, GNA - The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, has said physical education and sports cannot be isolated from quality education and so the need for the two to be blended to produce an all round and absolute student.

Mr Tetey-Enyo said the healthy pursuit and combination of sports and physical activities can impart positively on the academic pursuit and well-being of the individual.

The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaque Salia at the opening of the 29th Inter-Regional Basic Schools Sports Festival in Wa on Tuesdays.

Mr Tettey-Enyo said the freedom to develop physical, intellectual and moral power through physical education and sports must be guaranteed both within the education system and other aspects of social life.

He said "It is for this reason that the Ghana Education Service places premium on physical education and sports programmes in schools and the society as a whole".

Mr Tettey-Enyo stressed that physical education and sports programmes served as a unifying force for the youth through which ethnic inclinations that often militate against unity and stability can be curtailed.

"At the international front, many nations use sports programmes to build and portray a strong image since wars and battles which were used to measure the strength of societies or nations in the past are no longer acceptable in our civilized world", he explained.

Mr Tettey-Enyo said Ghana's sports needs to be revitalized with many positive calls for physical education to be strengthened in schools as a way of revamping the nation's lost glory.

He therefore called for effective teaching of physical education and participation of the youth to help unearth talents and urged Directors of Education, heads of institutions, teachers and coaches to ensure that the subject is taught in accordance with the laid down policies of the Ministry.

Mr Tettey-Enyo advised the students against the use of drugs, saying: "Do not destroy yourself with drugs. Ghana needs you to develop and become useful to the society".

He also reminded the participants about the prevalence of HIV and AIDS and urged them to avoid pre-marital sex and to stay healthy at all times.

The Minister commended Nestle Ghana Limited for sponsoring the tournament with the provision of medals, jerseys, training vests for boys and girls for all the ten regions.

Alhaji Salia in his welcoming address announced that approval has been given for the expansion of facilities at the Wa Sports Stadium.

The participants would compete for honours in soccer, volleyball, handball, table tennis, netball, cross country and athletics.