Kufuor receives the Queen's Baton at the Castle

President J.A Kufuor on Sunday said that sports was a vital link to strengthen peace and unity in the world. He said the Queen's baton relay as a prelude to Commonwealth Games held every four years was also an important symbol of unity among Commonwealth member countries.

President Kufuor said this when he received the Baton at a brief ceremony at the Castle, Osu. He said, " I am proud to receive this Baton, a symbol of unity among the Commonwealth family. Today, Ghana is a full and equal member of the family which offers economic development, co-operation and technical assistance to democratisation of governments among members".

President Kufuor said it was good for Ghana to participate in the relay towards this year's Commonwealth Games to be held in Manchester in July and specially designed to mark the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of the Commonwealth.

Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, who handed over the baton to President Kufuor said, "It is my greatest honour to present to you this baton which is in commemoration of the 27th Commonwealth Games in Manchester." Mr Neil Pugsley, leader of a three-man team, which accompanied the baton on the relay from Manchester presented a miniature of the baton to President Kufuor.

The first leg of the two-day baton relay in Ghana, began from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where it had arrived from Trinidad and Tobago was handed over to a bulk of runners, mostly from Keep Fit Clubs in the Accra Metropolis and was then handed over to Mr Solomon Darko, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive.

Mr Darko handed over the baton to Mr. Prince Oduro Mensah, MP for Techiman South and Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports who gave it to Dr Rod Pullen, British High Commissioner in Ghana who

wore a black arm band following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Queenmother on Saturday, at the entrance of the Castle, Osu.

Dr Pullen handed it over to Benson T. Baba, Director of Prisons and President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), then to Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) and Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, who finally handed it over to President Kufuor.

After the ceremony, President Kufuor made a symbolic run with the baton and handed it over to Vice President Aliu Mahama, after a symbolic run handed it over to Mr. Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports then to Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who returned it to Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, Minister of Youth and Sports.

Before the baton finally left the Castle, Mr. Osei Kwaku handed it back to President Kufuor who carried it and made another symbolic run for about 50 metres to the main entrance of the Castle and returned it to Mr Osei Kwaku to continue with the relay.

The second leg of the relay in Ghana would continue on Monday, April 1, before it continues to Sierra Leone to other Commonwealth countries and finally to Manchester on the opening day of the games on July 25.