Accra, March 5, GNA – Keta District in the Volta Region is expected to benefit from a newly developed cooperation between the Austrian Sports Ministry and the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Ghana.

Under the new partnership, the District is expected to benefit from the construction of a multipurpose three in one court for handball, volleyball and basketball, to be situated at Keta Senior High and Technical School with accessories for training, playing of matches and organising of workshops.

In addition, the football fields in Vodza will be levelled to enhance training, playing, matches and workshops and a multipliers’ workshop to be led by Right To Play Ghana, Play Soccer Ghana and Books and Boots in Ghana and workshops for school and outside of school groups.

Dr Bella Bello Bitugu, European Coordinator of Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC) told GNA Sports in Accra that the initiative is a first step towards using sports as a tool for promoting development and peace.

He said it is in line with the United Nations resolution and recommendations of using sports to address developmental issues and contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Clement Kofi Humado, Minster of Youth and Sports lauded the initiative of Dr Bitugu saying “this is a clear sign for others to follow, to use sports as an effective tool to address inequality and development issues in the world.

“Sports has proven to be an effective platform for intervention in community and societal issues and I believe my ministry will be using this project as an impetus for other initiatives both within and outside the country to follow.

D. K. Sedanu-Kwawu, Headmaster of Keta Senior High and Technical School observed that the construction of the infrastructure will not only allow the students to take up exercising and other forms of sports but will also enable the girls and other members of the society to be involved in the development agenda of the community.

The project will kick off in April and will be supervised by Dr Bitugu, who hails from Keta as wel as other officials.