Takoradi, Mar. 12 GNA - Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) has said that sports development constitutes not only as a platform for recreation but also ensures good health, friendship, reconciliation, unification and peaceful co-existence.

He said that, "Even sworn enemies could meet and reconcile, interact, play or compete to show sportsmanship and friendliness irrespective of their differences".

Mr. Nkrumah said these at the opening of the fourth annual zonal Inter-Schools and Colleges Athletic Competition in Takoradi on Thursday. Seventeen schools are participating in the two-day event that is aimed at fostering memorable friendship among the students and create a peaceful and unified front among the various institutions in the region. Mr. Nkrumah charged the participants to make discipline, fairness and sportsmanship their watchword throughout the competition.

He appealed to stakeholders in education to assist and join the government to instil discipline, reconciliation, dedication and forgiveness in the upbringing of students and the youth.

Mr. Joshua Baidoo, Chairman of the Sekondi zone, reminded the participants of the objectives of such competitions and recalled that during the 2003 competition, Adiembra, Shama, Mpohor and Daboase secondary schools who did not take part in the last competition are now participating in the on-going competition.

He said at last year's competition, Bompeh Secondary School won the first position in the boys category with 140 points while Ahantaman Secondary School came first in the girls category with 102 points.