*The Founder’s Day Celebration was marked with an Inter- Colleges Soccer tourney by the Chiefs and People of Nkroful with the host school Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School (NASS), beating Half Assini Senior School (HASCO) 2:1 on penalty shoot outs after the game ended 0:0 in regulation time at the Nkroful School Park in the Ellembele District of the Western Region on Wednesday, 21st September, 2011.*

The three- day event which was sponsored by Tullow Ghana Limited and partnered by the Office of the Ellembele Member of Parliament was participated by eight senior high schools within the Nzema zone area.

The penalty shoot outs capped a highly competitive game which saw very few chances being created on a rain soaked pitch.

HASCO dominated proceedings in the first half but the home team, NAAS, turned the tide around in the second period of the game but failed to take the few chances that came their way leading to the penalty shoot outs.

NASS converted 2 kicks out of four while HASCO missed three of their five kicks sending the home team into a state of delirium.

The win sparked wild celebrations for students, teachers and inhabitants of Nkroful-the birth place of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Perhaps the nature of the competition epitomized the hard struggle that the Osagyefo had to endure before securing the nations independence from the British colonial masters some 54 years ago.

The champions took away a trophy, gold medals, a set of soccer boots, jerseys, cash prize, certificate of honour and football. The first runner up also had a set of jersey, football, silver medals, cash prize and a certificate of honour.

Earlier in the day, Essiama Secondary Technical also beat Kikam Technical Institute (Kimtech), 4:2 on penalty shoot outs after a goalless drawn game to take bronze.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah lauded organizers, Nzema Events Management and Tullow Ghana Limited for a successful programme.

He charged the youth especially students of the participating schools to take their studies seriously and refrain from indulging in immoral activities that would hinder their future ambitions

Hon. Kofi Buah who also doubles as the Deputy Energy Minister in charge of Petroleum called on the various stakeholders to consider putting in place lasting methods that would promote education especially ICT, Sports, science and mathematics in the area, adding that his outfit will support any organization, individual or group to attain their aim. “My office will continue to support the educational sector through the various activities which would go the long way promote quality excellence”.

The CEO of Nzema Events Management, promoters of the event, Evans Osei Baffour, thanked Tullow Ghana Limited for the effort made to ensure that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday was celebrated in a grand style through sports and quiz. He promised that his outfit will continue to organize such events that would seek to unearth talents.

The paramount chief of the Nzema East Traditional Council, Awulae Amihere Kpayinle II, congratulated the organizers and Tullow Ghana Limited for promoting one of Nzema’s illustrious sons’ Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

On the quiz segment NASS emerged as the champions in the SHS category with Usman Bin Affan Senior High School (UBASH) placing second and Esiama Secondary Technical placing third.

On the Junior High Level, Nyaneba JHS emerged as the champions with Twene JHS placing second, whiles St Augustinus of Axim placing third. They all received cash prizes, certificate of honour, plagues and text books etc.