Yendi (N/R), Feb. 17, GNA - Ya-Na House of Yendi Senior High School gathered 141 points to emerge champions of the two-day sixth joint annual Inter-Houses Athletics Competition of Dagbon State Senior High Technical School and Yendi Senior High School which ended at Yendi in the Northern Region.

Gundogu House of Dagbon State Senior High Technical School came second with 135 points, followed by Teviu House of Yendi Senior High School with 134 points, Nkrumah House of Yendi Senior High School followed with 126 points, while Kunzemdow House of Dagbon State Senior High Technical School had 115 points with four other Houses of the two schools following in that order.

The Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mahama Adam Hudu Walvis stressed the important role of sports in the socio-economic development of the individual, society and the nation which he noted cannot be over emphasized. Mr Walvis noted that physical education through sporting activities enhances the academic performance of especially students with the saying of a sound mind rest in a sound body. He said the special awards given by the President to the gallant Black Satellites and Black Stars for bringing honour and glory to the nation is a testimony that sports men and women get rewarded for their exploits. The Municipal Chief Executive said government in its determination to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and recognition of the role of education in poverty alleviation and bridging the gab between the poor and the rich, has instituted social intervention policies such as free school uniforms for deprived pupils, increased the School Feeding grants in Senior High Schools, as well as the Capitation Grants in Junior High Schools among others.

Mr Walvis said the Municipal Assembly has over the past years spent more than half of its budget allocations on education and health in the provision of infrastructure like classroom blocks, teachers' accommodation and CHIPs Compounds and hostel facilities among other. He assured the participants that the Assembly will continue in such efforts and support with particular attention to Senior High Schools to mitigate the problems of staff accommodation, classrooms and dormitories for students among others in the coming years.

The Headmaster of Dagbon State Senior High Technical School, Mr Gregory Maabier Tugberee in an address read on his behalf, said the two schools signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly organise the inter-houses to reduce costs hence the organisation of the sixth joint Annual Inter-Houses Athletics competition this year.

Mr Tugberee said that the joint competition has drastically cut down the cost and budgets of the competition unified the two schools socially and above all unearthed sporting talents of the Municipality. He appealed for more sporting equipment for the two schools to enable them improve on their performance.

The Municipal Director of Education, Mr Natogmah Ziblim who chaired the function expressed his appreciation to the athletes for the peaceful and discipline manner in which they and the spectators conducted themselves during the two day competition and urged them to keep it up. Mr Natogmah commended the schools for the joint inter-houses competition which he noted has gone a long way to bring about unity amongst them.