Accra, June 30, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Saturday called on Ghanaians to actively engage in physical exercise to keep their bodies and minds sound and well.

He said most Ghanaians are prone to high blood pressure and cardio vascular diseases due to lack of exercise and bad eating habits among other things and that regular exercise could curb these ailments. Speaking at the end of the sixth annual Republic Day Walk on the theme "Walking Together With Ghana @ 50 in Accra, Vice President Mahama said it was important for people to organise programmes to mark the Republic Day that constitutes a landmark in Ghana's political history. He urged Ghanaians to observe peace especially at this time when the country was hosting the ninth ordinary session of the Assembly of African Union and marking the Republic Day in order to portray the warmth and friendliness of the people.

The Vice President appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to promote health walks and exercises at workplaces and in the society and said "by so doing we can reduce the cost for curative care whiles encouraging the use of preventive medicine".

Mr. Patrick Senaya, the Chairman of the El-walk Kip-fit Club, said it was about time Ghanaians recognised the need to establish kip-fit clubs in communities to ensure a healthy nation.

He said since the club dealt with all manner of people of different ages and class, it was important to observe discipline "in our live styles to make the Vice President campaign against indiscipline in the country a reality."