Kumasi, March 26, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday led Members of Parliament (MPs), District Chief Executives (DCEs) and a cross section of members of Keep Fit Clubs in the Ashanti Region to embark on a fitness walk organised by the Prempeh College Keep Fit Club in Kumasi. The President was flanked by Professor Agyemang Badu Akosah, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Mr Ernest Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive in the walk which commenced at 8.30 am at the Kumasi central post office.

Dubbed "Presidential and Royal Fitness Walk", the walk formed part of activities marking the silver jubilee celebrations of the Prempeh College Keep Fit Club and to also create awareness of the importance of regular exercises. President Kufuor and the participants started the walk briskly through some principal streets of the Metropolis amidst brass band music and cheers from the public, most of whom joined the 45-minute walk. The participants later converged at the Manhyia Palace where the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem, the Asantehemaa met them on arrival.

Mr Boafo in an address cautioned Ghanaians against leading reckless lifestyles that could risk their health and physical well-being. He said the citizenry must be committed to embarking on regular exercises in order to keep their bodies in shape and also avoid contracting diseases especially heart-related ones. Major Kyei Bosomtwe (rtd), President of the Ashanti Regional Keep Fit Clubs commended the organisers of the walk and called for the sustenance of such walks to inculcate the need for regular exercises to enhance the nation's manpower development.