On Friday, November 05, 2021, the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) brought to an end, a two-day Scientific Workshop for sports practitioners including coaches, sports administrators, federations/associations/clubs and researchers in Ho, the Volta Regional Capital of Ghana.
The Workshop, which was organized at the Cedi Auditorium of UHAS Main Campus in Ho was aimed at evaluating Ghana’s participation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with the view of articulating a scientific approach towards the participation of upcoming sporting events, namely, the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the 2023 African Games being hosted by Ghana and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Organized on the 4th & 5th November, 2021, the Scientific Workshop saw over 100 participants being offered various lectures, including Evolution of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine at UHAS, History of Ghana at the Olympic Games, The Importance of Research and Education in Sustainable Sports Development, Grassroots Sports Identification and Coaching Management, and Evaluation of Ghana’s Participation at the Olympic Games and Concerns from Athletes and Coaches.
Other areas covered during questions and answers included adoption of scientific and technological approaches, sports education and research to help in proposing the required programs for future sports competition.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of UHAS, Prof. Harry Tagbor, who represented the Vice Chancellor of the University as the host co-chaired the Worksop with the Director General of NSA, Prof Peter Twumasi.
The resource persons from NSA were the Director General, Prof. Peter Twumasi, the Deputy Director General (Technical), Mr Kwame Amponfi Jnr, Head of Education, Training and Research Unit, Dr Enoch Baah.
Among the other resource persons were the Dean of School of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Prof. Eric Ofori, the HOD of Department of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences, Prof. Oluwaseum Omotayo, the Chief Operating Officer of LOC for Accra 2023 African Games, Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah and Prof. John O. Gyapong of UHAS. The CEO of Atta Mills Institute, Hon. Koku Anyidoho was also present as Guest Speaker.
A Communique was read at the end of the Workshop by Prof. Omotayo on behalf of the organizers and participants. After the workshop, participants expressed delight and commended the NSA and UHAS for the initiative to train people in the sports fraternity with scientific approach which is needed to manage sports men and women in line with development of sports in Ghana.
By: Stephen Afful/NSA