Wa, June 30, GNA - The Upper West Regional Sports Authority has launched its Unity Games with the objective of selecting sports men and women to represent the region at the upcoming National Unity Games scheduled to take place in July in Accra.

The Region would be competing in 16 sporting disciplines including football, athletics, boxing, cycling, tennis, scrabble, disabled sports, taekwondo, badminton, basketball, handball, table tennis, volleyball, cross country, hockey and netball. The over 100 participants were drawn from educational institutions as well as from other public institutions and groupings. Mr Bediaku Ahmed, the Regional Sports Development Officer in an address at the opening ceremony at the Wa Sports Stadium on Wednesday said the aim of the Unity Games was to whip up the enthusiasm of the people to desire for national peace and unity through sports. He said no other event has so powerfully captured human hearts for positive purposes than sports, hence, the need to promote it for the purposes of peace and unity.

Mr Ahmed said that the Regional office of the Authority has come out with an action plan to promote the involvement of the youth in the process and to ensure that opportunities for youth leadership and active citizenship through sports were maximized. He recounted that the Region has a national reputation for achievements in sports, adding that the National Unity Games would offer yet another opportunity for the Region to showcase that reputation and talents to the global audience.

Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, Upper West Regional Minister said government was committed to develop sports for it to serve as a tool that could improve on the health status of the people and also as an important ingredient for nation building.

He however noted that government alone cannot adequately finance sports development in view of the cost involved and called on all stakeholders including the District Assemblies and corporate bodies to find innovative sports funding mechanisms to promote the game.