The 25th Games of the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA), hosted by the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Started on the 6th of January and expected to end on 19th January 2018. The Opening Ceremony was held on Sunday 7th January 2018 at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium. 8 public Universities are participating in the Games namely: UDS, UG, KNUST, UCC, UEW, UMAT, UPSA and UENR are competing for honours in 12 sporting disciplines comprising :Athletics, Basketball, Hockey, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Football, Goalball, Handball, Netball, Table Tennis, Tennis and Volleyball .
Professor Seidu Al-hassan Chairman for the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Pro -Vice Chancellor of the University, in his speech welcome all and sundry to UDS and indicated that members of the LOC were overjoyed and full of excitement for the honour of hosting the 25th edition of the GUSA Games.
Professor Seidu Al-hassan remarked that the critical facilities that were required for these games were virtually absent and funds were scarce to construct new facilities. This called for a consented effort by the LOC to colloborate with schools within Tamale to assess their state of facility for use. He said
“As part of the efforts we have been working closely with some financial institutions and friends of UDS to promote sports development through the provision of scholarships for brilliant but needy sports students as well as sports infrastructural development.
He thanked management of the University for constructing some of the critical facilities for use at the Games.
The Vice – Chancellor of UDS, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye in his address welcome University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) to the fold of GUSA.
He noted that this was the second time UDS was hosting the biennial sporting event, the first was held in 2008.
He averred that “sports have gone beyond merely being a source of entertainment to becoming a profitable business venture. It is for these reasons that sports has become an integral feature on the academic calendar of public Universities in Ghana.
He re-echoed that the theme for the competition: ‘ Ghana @ 60- The Role of University Sports in National Development‘ is the most appropriate at this time considering the contribution made by sports in general towards the economic growth of Ghana since independence. According to him sports has also lifted high the banner of this nation on the international scene.
He commended the Executives of GUSA for introducing Beach Volleyball in this year’s competition and urged them to add other lesser known sports in subsequent games.He encouraged all to compete at their very best devoid of use of drugs.
The acting president of GUSA Mr. Ben Osafo, on behalf of Council and the Executive Committee of GUSA , welcomed all to the Games. He thanked the Vice- Chancellor of UDS for accepting to host the Games while acknowledging the collaborative effort by management, the LOC and the University Community towards the preparation for the Games. He extended appreciation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) for assisting GUSA to secure the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium as the main venue for the Games He indicated that 2017 was a sorrowful year for GUSA as the Association lost its President, Professor Joseph Kwesi Ogah, and two former members: the late Mustapha Issahaku of UDS and Eric Boro of UCC. A minute silence was observed for these brethren.
Mr. Osafo was of the opinion that GUSA must progress from only organising local competitions to hosting international competitions particularly FASU Games. He commended the Government for providing funds to continue the University of Ghana Stadium project, which is expected to be completed in two years’ time. He appealed to Government to take over the on-going refurbishment of the sports facilities at UCC
As part of the activities of the Opening Ceremony a football match was played between the host and UENR in which UDS won by 2 goals to nil.
He acknowledged , with much gratitude, the American Student Athlete Logistics or ASAL as a key Sponsor of the Games.
The Games continue.
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