Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof Peter Twumasi is calling on Regional Directors of NSA to extend support to Ghana Draughts Association (GDA) in order for the newly adopted sports association under the NSA to succeed.
He said this during the launch of the 2022 Otumfuo draught competition on Friday at Manhyia palace in the Ashanti region organized by the GDA.
The GDA is the governing body that oversees the organization of locally originated Ghanaian draught competition or known as checkers but popularly called ‘Dame’ in Ghana.
This year’s competition will begin on July 29, 2022 and end on July 31, 2022 amongst eight regions of Ghana at the Manhyia Royal Ground.
The eight regions that will be competing for glory this month are Ashanti, Greater Accra, Volta, Bono, Northern, Central , Eastern and Western regions.
Speaking during an event he was invited as the special guest to officially launch this year’s draught competition, the NSA boss welcomed the new sports federation under NSA and also encouraged his Regional Directors to assist the GDA in their regional competitions.
“Today, you have satisfied the requirement of sports development from the grass-root level.
“This is going to be the very first sporting association that’s mainly a development of our Ghanaian society and that happens to be the very first traditional sports, that’s developed, made in Ghana and it’s competed across the globe.
“The National Sports Authority pledges its support, full support to your association. He said.
“This particular one that you’re organizing, I’ve tasked my Regional Director in Ashanti to ensure that every needed support, technically or whatever is provided to ensure that you have a very successful competition.
“As i do so, I’m also tasking all my Regional Directors to extend the same kind of support to you, the regional leadership to ensure that your competition, your sporting discipline will be well developed.”
He added, this indigenous game originated locally should be developed as it can be used as a tool for unity and development in the country.
Draught is a challenging board game that involves two players who move uniform game pieces diagonally and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces.
This sport, also known as ‘Dame’ locally can be participated by both the young and the adult basically to train ones strategic skills and logic.
Prof Peter Twumasi after the launch had the honor of greeting the Queen mother of Ashanti, Asantehemaa Nana Ama Konadu III to pay his respect.