Donkro-Nkwanta (B/A), Dec. 23 GNA - A cross-country sports competition is to be organised for various youth groups of Donkro-Nkwanta in the Nkoranza District of Brong-Ahafo during Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25.

Mr. Collins Ofosu, Assemblyman for the Donkro-Nkwanta told the GNA Sports that the programme is being organised to bring the youth together and to encourage them to develop interest in especially Keep-Fit activities.

The Assemblyman who is popularly known as "Kaakyire Badu" said with the just-ended general elections in the country, the competition is also aimed at offering members of the various political parties in the area the opportunity to interact with one another and bury any differences they might have.

The programme would also go a long way to prevent the people from engaging in heavy drinking and other social vices at the early hours of Christmas day and after, since such behaviours, he claimed had been a tradition of the youth in the past.

Mr. Ofosu said the competition was opened to both men and women between the ages of 18 years and 50 years, adding that prizes would be awarded to the first three winners in both the male and female categories.

He said that it is the wish of the organisers that the competition would be an annual affair if this year's competition becomes successful and that other sporting activities will be included in later years to help promote unity, peaceful co-existence and understanding among the people.

The competition would cover a distance of three kilometres starting from the River Pru near Baanofour to end at Donkro-Nkwanta while an ambulance and recovery truck would be provided to assist the runners who get injured or are unable to continue with the race within the distance. Mr. Kwaku Addae Asah, Managing Director of Jennikaff Communication Centre at Donkro-Nkwanta is the main sponsor of the competition. Meanwhile, interested youth and competitors have been asked to register free of charge with Mr. Kofi Dabo alias "Teacher Dabo" at Donkro-Nkwanta before Christmas Day.