Accra, Aug. 22, GNA – The Ministry of Youth and Sports has officially handed over a multipurpose court to the West Africa Senior High School in Accra to enhance the development of sporting talents in the school.

The multipurpose court worth $100,000 dollars is one of 20 others being funded by mining firm, AngloGold Ashanti, as part of the company's corporate social responsibility to help promote and develop sports across the country, which was handed over to the School at a brief ceremony on its campus.

The facility has been developed to host basketball, handball and volleyball games.

Wolanyo Agra, out-going Director General of the National Sports Authority who represented Clement Kofi Humado, Minister of Youth of Sports, commended AngolGold Ashanti for their long standing commitment towards the promotion and development of sports across the country.

He appealed to other private individuals and corporate organisations to support the Ministry in its quest to develop sports, especially the ‘lesser known’ ones.

Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Vice President in charge of Corporate Affairs for AngloGold Ashanti - Ghana said the injection of two million dollars towards the construction of 20 multipurpose courts is in fulfillment of their agreement with Government and also a demonstration of their commitment to partnering the Ministry of Youth and Sports to develop general sports in the country.

He explained that the choice of a Senior High School as one of the beneficiaries is not out of place since that is the stage most athletes are exposed to competitive sports for the first time.

Osei Gyamera, Assistant Headmaster of the School was full of praise for the Ministry and AngloGold Ashanti for selecting WASS as one of the beneficiaries.

He recalled that WASS, as the School is fondly referred to has produced national athletes in the past and expressed optimism that the facility will go a long way to motivate the students to take sports seriously in conjunction with their studies.

The Assistant Headmaster appealed to AngloGold Ashanti to help in the provision of seating for their football pitch as well as give it a facelift since it serves nearby educational institutions and the residents.

Gyamera concluded that the School’s penchant for sports saw two of the students being sponsored to attend the recent London 2012 Olympic Games held in the United Kingdom. Aside West Africa Senior High School, other beneficiary institutions for the second phase of the project include Anlo Senior High School, Swedru Business School, Techiman Senior High School and Dadieso Senior High School.

The first phase saw the University of Ghana, Anfoega and Hohoe (both in the Volta Region) and Bolgatanga township as the beneficiaries.