WOSPAG holds forum for the media

Accra, July 16, GNA- The Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr Kodwo Baah-Wiredu on Wednesday admitted that the ministry was facing daunting challenges and that there was the need to restructure the system for improved sports development in the country.

'The system should be one that would reflect the involvement of all key stakeholders and collaborators," he said.

The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by this Deputy, Mr Joe Aggrey at a media forum organised by the Women Sports Association of Ghana, (WOSPAG) on Wednesday to sensitise the media on the need to give more coverage to sporting activities involving women. He said the parameters currently affecting sports development and growth in the country were multi-faceted and "this demands going back to the basics."

Mr Baah-Wiredu therefore, called for the adoption of scientific approach and a strategy that would involve developing sports from the nurseries up to the Universities to ensure that those who pass through the system are wholly baked.

He commended WOSPAG for its tremendous effort in rekindling and encouraging more women to participate in sports and urged them to train more women coaches and administrators to take up leadership positions in sports as it was in the past in order to bring equity at all levels.

The Minister, praised the French Embassy for its support to WOSPAG adding that the ministry would not give up the task of making sure that the country regained its lost glory in sports.

In a speech read for her, Miss Christine Churcher, Minister of State, Basic and Girl Child said a lot of programmes, interventions and initiatives have been developed to create societal awareness of the need to give women the opportunity to develop their potentials and contribute meaningfully to the development of society.

To this end, she said, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has been encouraging girls' participation in sports by implementing programmes that included sports disciplines for both boys and girls on fifty-fifty basis.

Dr Deborah Cubagee, chairman of WOSPAG expressed unhappiness about the apathy of women in sports in recent times and appealed to the authorities to address this situation in order to attract more women into sports.