Cape Coast (Central Centre), 5 March. '99 -

The Central regional minister, Lt. Col. Charles Agbenaza (rtd) yeterday opened the ninth annual central regional schools and colleges athletic championship with a call on the athletes to avoid the use of drugs to enhance their performance. The two-day meeting, being organised by the regional schools and colleges association, forms part of activities marking Ghana's 42nd independence anniversary celebration in the region. The regional minister told the students that governments, heads of schools and colleges all over the world are warning their peoples about the side effect of the use of drugs. He, therefore, asked them to take those warnings seriously and avoid finding short routes in their endeavour through the use of drugs "since short cuts are always dangerous". Col.Agbenaza congratulated Messrs Legna Construction Company for the impressive work done on the rehabilitation of Adisadel College park, venue for the athletic meeting. He asked the heads of schools and colleges to collect the approved sports levies to enable the contractor to complete the project without delay to avoid additional expenditure. St Augustine's secondary school are defending the boys championship trophy they won last year while Apam girls are defending the trophy they lifted for two consecutive years. Nestle Ghana Limited, manufacturers of Milo, Nido, Milk, and other products, have donated quantities of their products to be given to deserving athletes. Onawat Limited, a stationery dealer in Cape Coast, has donated 250,000 cedis to the athletes.