Tamale, June 20, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister has advised authorities of the University for Development Studies (UDS) to use the opportunity of hosting the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games to showcase their potentials.

He also called on them to initiate other opportunities to attract investors to the school for effective development of the various campuses adding, "Attract the Missions, Embassies and other investors to the school".

Alhaji Idris said this at the inauguration of a twelve-member newly constituted committee of the Local Organising Committee of the GUSA in Tamale on Wednesday. GUSA is made up of six public universities in the country.

He expressed his gratitude to the University authorities for accepting to host the GUSA Games for the first time in its history and advised that they use the rare opportunity to deepen the peace and development initiatives in the Northern Region. The Regional Minister promised his assistance and support to the University and its management for a successful tournament and expressed the hope that they would come out victorious. Alhaji Ali later donated ten footballs and two sets of jerseys to the UDS and urged the playing body to endeavour to bring out their best at the Games.

Albert Yawson, President of the Amalgamated Sports Clubs said the GUSA Games started in 1966 but the UDS joined the competition during its 16th edition in 2000 as a full participant. He said the main objectives of the GUSA Games were to develop sports among member institutions and other institutions of higher learning and to foster closer contact among students of member institutions and to help build students mentally and emotionally.

Yawson said since all the members of GUSA had hosted the tournament before, it was unanimously agreed at its 2006 General Meeting that the UDS should host the next competition this year. Professor David Millar is the Chairman of the Committee with Prof. Saa Dittoh as the first Vice Chairman, Mr. Albert Yawson, Second Vice Chairman and Mr. E. Kaba, Secretary.