Mr Henry Ackom, Cricket Operations Officer, Ghana Cricket Association (GCA), on Friday noted that cricket was taking children off the streets in the country.

“There is something about cricketing which brings players together. This uniting force attracts children to engage positively and stay away from vices,” he stated.

Mr Ackom said this at the first ever inter-schools Cricket competition in the country in Ho the Volta Regional capital and sponsored by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

He said cursory observation indicated that many children were developing love for the game and urged parents and teachers to help and encourage their children to develop their inherent skills for that sport.

Mr Ackom said the inter-schools competition was to introduce the game to the children so that interested children would have coaches and mentors to help them develop their skills alongside their academics.

He said the Association had also given some bats to the schools for use by the children and called for the support of corporate institutions.

Mr Komla Kokoroko, Ho Municipal Coordinator of Physical Education of the Ghana Education Service (GES) said the Municipality would take advantage of the opportunity to provide alternative sporting activities for the children and raise champions for the country.

Six primary schools, five junior high and three senior high schools are taking part in the two-day events.

Ghana is said to be among the six best cricket teams in Africa.