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By Michael Foli Jackidy Dzodze (V/R), Oct 20, GNA – Mr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, has underscored the need to guide young sports men and women to balance their sporting talents with education, emphasizing that the future belongs to those who combine skill with knowledge. Delivering a speech on his behalf at the Seventh Annual Duamenefa Regional Sports Tournament and Durbar held at Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Presidential Envoy in charge of Interfaith and Ecumenical Affairs, noted that sports and education were not separate paths but complementary forces that must go hand in hand. He said Ghana’s young sports talents must be encouraged to pursue education alongside their athletic ambitions to prepare them for leadership roles beyond the field. He called for greater investment in education, leadership, and technical training to enable the youth of the Volta Region to not only compete on the pitch but also contribute meaningfully to national decision-making and development. “We must invest in education, leadership, and technical training so that the bright sons and daughters of the Volta Region will not only compete on the pitch but also sit at the table where decisions are made, projects are planned, and investments are negotiated,” he stated. Mr. Debrah commended the Duamenefa Foundation for using sports as a vehicle to promote peace, unity, and development. He noted that the country always needs peace not only during elections but, adding that sports and culture should be used to heal divisions and strengthen national cohesion. The Volta Regional Representative on the Council of State and CEO of the Tanko Foundation, H.E. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atople, reaffirmed his Foundation’s commitment to the Duamenefa vision of using sports for community and human development. He called on other philanthropists, corporate institutions, and political leaders to unite behind the initiative. “Let this celebration and the Duamenefa spirit mark the beginning of a renewed covenant among our chiefs, leaders, and people to stand together as Voltarians and not as fragmented people,” he urged. Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, commended the Foundation’s vision and pledged his support, emphasising the importance of such initiatives in transforming the sports landscape and infrastructure of the region. The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Mr. Eric Edem Agbana, also pledged his commitment to sports development, assuring that as Chairman of the U-19 Elite Championship Committee, he would continue to scout and nurture young talents in Ketu North and across the Volta Region. Evangelist Emmanuel Ketaman Evortepe, CEO and Executive President of the Duamenefa Foundation, recounted the Foundation’s achievements over the years, including securing opportunities for young players to join foreign clubs and providing scholarships for education and skills development. He expressed gratitude to the Tanko Foundation, Sesi-Edem Group of Companies, and government officials from the region for their continuous support. He disclosed that land has already been secured for the construction of an AstroTurf stadium, calling for stronger collaboration to bring the project to fruition. “The time for meaningful partnership to achieve this vision for the Volta Region is now,” he concluded. The Duamenefa Foundation, under the Sesi-Edem Company Limited and in collaboration with the Tanko Foundation, has for the past seven years been promoting peace and unity through sports across the Volta Region and beyond, with a membership of over 48,000. This year’s event, themed “Creating a Society for Equal, Fair and Equitable Access to Basic Necessities,” sought to raise funds for the construction of an AstroTurf in the southern part of the region. The tournament featured football, volleyball, tug of peace, and marathon races. In the grand finale, Aflao-Viepe Football Club defeated Banana Inn FC from Accra 2–1 to lift the trophy. Individuals and institutions who have distinguished themselves in the tournament’s history were honoured with medals, citations, sewing machines, and other prizes. Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade
