Mampong, (Ash), Aug. 4, GNA - The three-day annual Ashanti Regional Inter-Districts Basic Schools Sports Festival ended at Asante-Mampong with Asante-Akim South District lifting the soccer trophy for the first time. Asante-Akim South District chalked the success after they beat Obuasi Municipal 4-3 on penalties after the two sides were deadlocked 1-1 in the regulation time. Atwima-Nwabiagya District came first in the girls' athletics event while Kumasi Metropolitan emerged champions in the boys' athletics division.

In the netball competition, Kwabre District placed first followed by Sekyere West District in second position with Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District taking the third position. Ahafo-Ano North District emerged champions of the boys' volleyball event with Kumasi Metropolitan winning the girls' division. Ejura-Sekyedumase District walloped Kumasi Metropolitan 5-1 in the table tennis girls' finals but the Kumasi Metropolitan boys made amends by beating their Ejura-Sekyedumase counterparts 3-1.

Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education in his closing remarks said that it was only through sports that the youth could adequately develop the body and mind and their talents. He reiterated that the Ghana Education Service (GES) was committed to strengthening teaching and learning of physical education in schools to promote the moral, spiritual, mental, social and physical development of the pupils and students. Mr Onyinah said he was optimistic that the Festival had afforded the teachers the opportunity to practically evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching of physical education in schools and also unearth young talented boys and girls to be groomed into national and international sporting activities. Mr Frank Musah, Mampong Municipal Director of Education, said the Festival had created conducive platform for the participants and officials to interact and also to share ideas and experiences to promote sports development. He commended the organizers, officials and the participants for displaying a high sense of honesty, selflessness, integrity and fairness to ensure the success of the Festival which he described as one of the best organised in the history of sporting events in the Ashanti Region.