Koforidua, Aug 5, GNA - Two records were broken at the end of the 27th Eastern Regional Basic Schools Sports Festival Koforidua on Friday.

The Festival was also used to select a regional team to participate in the National Basic Schools Inter-Regional Sports Festival which opens in Tamale on August 26, this year. Kweku Daniel of Kwahu North District leapt 1.70 metres in the Boys high jump to brake the old record of 1.65 metres set by Paul Akor of Manya Krobo District in 2000.

Solomon Annan of Akuapim South District also made a time of 54.18 seconds in the Boys 400 metres race to break the old record of 54.80 secs. held by Thomas Adjei of the same District recorded in 2000.

Kwaebibirim District beat Atiwa District one-nil to win the Boys' soccer trophy while Asuogyaman District also beat Birim North one-nil to place third.

In the table tennis girls' division, New Juaben placed first with nine points followed by Birim North District with seven points while Kwaebibirim District placed third with six points. New Juaben won the first place technically after all the first three

districts had nine points each in the Boys division followed by West

Akim District at second position and Birim South third. In the over-all results chart, Birim North District won the Girls'

division with 59 points followed by Akuapem South at second

position with 55 points and Kwahu South third with 54 points. In the Boys' division, Akuapem North District was first with 84

points with Akuapem South District at second position with 64

points and Manya Krobo District third with 52 points.

The Chairman of the Eastern Regional Basic Schools Sports Association, Mr G. F. Y. Diko in his closing remarks said it was regrettable that despite all the districts receiving their full capitation grant for the academic year, it was only the Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar District which had fully paid its sports contribution to the Association.

He said the 16 other Districts in the Region owed the

Association over 300 million cedis and therefore appealed to the

various District Directors of Education to ensure that they honoured

their obligations to enable the Association have enough resources

to fund the regional team to the National Sports Festival in Tamale. Mr Diko said the incident-free festival had about 1,700 boys and

girls competing in the one week Festival. The Acting Eastern Regional Director of Education, Ms Felicia

Duku, in a speech read on her behalf urged the coaches to assist

the athletes selected to represent the Region to ensure that they

improve upon their current performance. 05 Aug. 06