Agona (Ash), Dec 3, GNA - Mr Kojo Prah, Afigya-Sekyere District Director of Education, has noted that effective sports development in the basic schools helps the children accumulate rich knowledge, think positively and analyse issues constructively.

Sports, he added, also build the child's power, strength, endurance and general physical fitness for future life.

Mr Prah was speaking at the launching of the 10th Ashanti region basic schools Under-12 sports festival at Agona in the Afigya-Sekyere District on Tuesday under the theme, "Catching them young".

"The sustainability of the much cherished peace, unity and development in the country greatly depends on the health of the nation's citizens", he said and warmly welcomed the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports' policy that physical education be taught at all levels of the country's educational institutions.

Sports development, Mr Prah said, is very expensive and that it is the responsibility of every citizen to help promote it since the government alone cannot fund it.

Mr Kwasi Akomea Kyeremateng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya-Sekyere East, who launched the festival, emphasised the importance of the promotion of sports as a way of developing the physical fitness of the citizenry for the country's rapid social and economic development.

He advised school authorities not only to beautify the school premises but also to foster proper environmental sanitation.

Mr G. Owusu-Mensah, Sekyere West District Director of Education and Ashanti Regional Chairman of Conference of District Directors of Education (CODDE), who presided, emphasised the importance of sports in nation building and called on all stakeholders, especially Afigya-Sekyere citizens to mobilise every available resources to support the Under-12 sports festival, which comes off on January 3, next year at Jamasi.