Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Rear Admiral (R/Adm) Issah Adam Yakubu, has hinted of the resurrection of Ghana’s Security Services Sports Association (SESSA) Games, to help bring out sufficient sports talents in the country, and to enable excellent performances at the national and international levels.
Admiral Yakubu made the revelation when AWARDS CENTRE GH – a subsidiary of Point Five Ventures: a registered supplier of GAF, presented sports kits and accessories to the Ghana Navy Sports Team on Tuesday, 16 January 2024, at the Naval Headquarters, Burma Camp, Accra, to enable the Naval Sports Team prepare adequately towards reintroduction of the SESSA Games – where Sports Teams representing various security services in Ghana, compete in multiple sports disciplines for honours.
Receiving the donation, R/Adm IA Yakubu said concerning sporting activities, the GAF has been a torch bearer in sports promotion, and would work to keep that status, thus the generous donation would cause the Navy Sports Team to deliver optimum results, even as in 2023, the Team delivered 5 trophies, with relatively little input.
“Sports is good for physical, mental and economic health”, Admiral Yakubu stated, adding that as Ghana prepares to host the 13th African Games between 8 and 23 March 2024, GAF will do its best to bring out some of the best talents in the country, to project the nation and sports in general.
He also revealed that Ghana Navy has sponsored three (3) persons to Sports Universities in the United States of America, and they have ended up competing in international competitions, bringing honour to the military in particular, and Ghana as a whole.
He therefore called upon other well-meaning organizations, to support sporting activities in GAF, as the military participates in multiple sporting disciplines, adding that the so-called lesser-known sports, when supported, have the potential to deliver more fame and glory.
Mr Percy Kwesi Amuah – Chief Executive Officer, AWARDS CENTRE GH, speaking to Peace Journal, said his firm, which deals in security uniforms and accessories, awards souvenirs and plaques, has kit-sponsored the Ghana Army Sports Team for a while now, and having similar packages for each of the security services, is only waiting for the opportune moment to make presentations to them.
He furthered that the motivation for the donation is to help restart the SESSA Games, as a basic measure that makes great things happen, as his setup has noticed the cooling-off of the inter-services competition, in terms of resources.
He said the inter-services games bring all the personnel within the various security services together, engendering unity, helping and collaborating with each other anywhere they find themselves, and bringing out the best sports talents for the benefit of Ghana.
Items presented included 2 sets of jerseys each for soccer, handball, basketball, volleyball, balls, bibs, hoes, among others.
Present at the event included the Chief Staff Officer, Navy – Commodore (Cdre) Prosper Modey, Deputy CSO, Policy and Plans – Cdre Solomon Asiedu-Larbi; Director, Naval Training – Naval Captain Dennis Kofi Eghan; other Senior Officers, Officers, personnel of the Naval Sports Team, and members of AWARDS CENTRE GH – Prince Annang, Nicholas Larry, William Quaye.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
