Sunyani, (B/A) July 7, GNA - The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih has called for a comprehensive initiative by stakeholders to use sports to promote healthy relationships among ethnic groups in the country. He said that sports has a tremendous impact on talent identification and development among the youth who needs to be properly tapped and put in good position to facilitate accelerated national development.

Prof. Fobih made the call at the close of the one-week Inter-Regional Schools' Sports Festival at the weekend. The 19th edition of the Schools' Sports Festival which attracted about 800 boys and girls and officials from the 10 Regions was jointly organised by Nestle Ghana Limited and the Ghana Education Service. The Minister added "To some of the children, this sports festival will provide career opportunities since sports has become a profession in itself".

Prof. Fobih noted that since the inception of the Milo Schools' Festival in 1989 it has become a very important and popular programme on the educational calendar and paid glowing tribute to Nestle Ghana Limited for sustaining its sponsorship.

He commended the participants, officials and organizers for making the festival a resounding success. Mr. Sarfo Prempeh, Human Resource and Corporate Affairs Manager of Nestle Ghana Limited, said that the company had invested more than GHC100,000 as its sponsorship to demonstrate its commitment to sports development in schools.

He said Nestle had been a vehicle for development of sports at the grass roots level both in Ghana and globally. Mr. Prempeh commended the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Schools and Colleges Sports Federation and the National Physical Education Coordinators for their respective roles in ensuring a successful event. At the end of the soccer event, Tamale Senior High School beat the defending champions, Gomoa Potsin T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School 2-0 and took away GHC 250, a trophy, gold medals, three cartons of Milo, three footballs and 23 Milo bags. Gomoa Potsin T.I Ahmadiyya received GHC 225, silver medals, two cartons of Milo and two footballs whilst Cape Coast Technical Institute placed third and received GHC 200, bronze medals, one carton of Milo and a football.

In the under-15 girls' soccer competition, Ashanti Region beat Greater Accra Region 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out to grab the first position whilst Eastern Region pipped Brong-Ahafo Region 1-0 to place third.

Brong-Ahafo Region however managed a 3-2 score in a penalty shoot-out against Greater Accra Region in the Inter-Regional Primary Schools soccer boys whilst the volleyball competition saw Agona Swedru SDA Girls Senior High School placing first after they defeated Oda Girls Senior High School in the final encounter. The winners received cash prizes, medals, Milo beverages, bags and footballs. Prizes were also awarded for Fair Play teams, Goal Kings and Queens, Best Attackers, Defenders and Goalkeepers. 07 July 08