Accra, July 2, GNA - The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) on Thursday marked this year's International Sports Journalists' Day in Accra with lectures.

The Day which is celebrated each year globally on July 2 is aimed at highlighting the contribution of sports journalists to the development of sports in the world. SWAG marked the day with a seminar to educate its members and other sports journalists on the pitfalls in the discharge of their duties and the ways to addressing them. Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, acting Minister of Youth and Sports in his address read on his address by Worlanyo Agra, acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Council emphasized the role of sports in the development of the country.

He however raised concerns about the diminishing image of Ghana on the international scene with respect to Athletics, Boxing, Tennis and Hockey and called for urgent measures to tackle them. The Sports Minister encouraged private participation in sports development especially in the area of sponsorship. Mr Pelpuo said that Government is determined to overhaul administrative structures, provide adequate facilities and equipment as well as produce highly trained and competent personnel to ensure successful and sustained growth in the sports sector. "It has therefore planned to organize periodic courses, seminars and workshops at the Winneba Sports College for Sports Administration, Coaches, Trainers and others to equip the various sporting disciplines." Ackah Anthony, SWAG President urged Sports Journalists to cast their nets wider by providing adequate reportage on all sporting disciplines.

"Sports Journalists in Ghana have been tagged as 'Football Journalists' whilst others have questioned our background with regards to qualification, whilst others have simply described us as unprofessional.

"It is on this note that I call on colleagues not to restrict themselves to only football but to devout equal attention to at least three other sporting disciplines." He also urged the participants to undergo training formally and informally to acquaint themselves with modern trends in sports coverage and reporting.

The day was climaxed with lectures from veteran journalists, Joe Aggrey and Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh on the topics "The state of Sports Journalism in Ghana and the way forward" and "Pitfalls in Sports Journalism and how to avoid them" respectively.