Accra, August 2, GNA - Ghana will participate in the 61st edition of the World Bodybuilding Championships slated for South Korea from October 25 - 29, 2007.

This is the first time that the nation will be making an appearance at the annual championships since its inception six decades ago. Abdul - Hayye Yartey, Chairman of the Ghana Bodybuilding Association (GBBA) said this at the inauguration of the Association in Accra on Thursday.

He said that the invitation to participate in the annual championships was based on the nation's performance during competitions such as the African Bodybuilding Championships in Egypt and the Mr Universe contest held in Italy in 2006.

Yartey emphasized on the importance of bodybuilding as a source of maintaining good health and fitness to all adding that the Association was determined to put a competent managerial structure in place to entice more youth to participate in the sport.

He acknowledged the high level of successes chalked by the association during its few years of existence and expressed optimism that it will be among the top three sports in the country within the next two years when given the necessary support and push. Abdul Hamid Issaka, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Sports Council (NSC) who inaugurated the newly formed association on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, assured the support of the Council to the GBBA and challenged them to draw up programmes that will seek to increase its membership.

Juliet Adjinah, secretary of the association outlined some elementary stages in the build of the association and said it as initiated by Flavour Productions Company Limited through the Ghana MuscleFlavour Amateur Bodybuilding Association (GMABA) until it was recognised by the NSC.

The newly inaugurated association has Daniel Budu, Nasir Ahmed - Yartey, Michael Ankrah, Ali Gomdah Abdul - Samad, Ekow Martins, Frank Agyekum, Boniface Abotsi and Martin Kwaku - Awuah as executive members.