Accra, June 20, GNA - Minister of Energy, Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong has said that the country has yet to realize the full potential of the sport of golf. "The economic benefits of golf in countries like the United States, Japan, Canada, Britain and South Africa cannot be overemphasized." Mr Owusu-Agyepong who made the remark on Friday during the official launch of the Golf Focus Magazine, cited low awareness and publicity of the sport as some of the major factors hindering its development in the country.

The Energy Minister, a keen golfer and immediate past President of the Tema Golf Club said one of the ways the nation can tap the full potential of golf is to create the needed awareness to eventually lead to increased participation by the general public. He added that golf is not only played for pleasure but serves as an instrument and forum for peace building, business development and promotion of political integration. Mr Owusu-Agyepong commended the publishers of the magazine for their efforts, adding that it will go a long way in granting the sport the needed publicity and promotion to see to the development and appreciation of the sport in the country. He appealed to other golfers and corporate institutions to lend their support towards the success of the magazine by offering it the needed advertisement and sponsorship.

Ackah Anthony, President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) urged the media to accord equal reportage of golf as is done with football. Festus Owoo, President of MediaBiz, publishers of the magazine hinted that his outfit has set its sight on ensuring that the magazine becomes a reference point for the sport in Ghana and the sub-region. He expressed gratitude to corporate bodies that supported the idea and assured them of their continuous contribution towards the promotion of golf in the country. A special auction of the first ten copies yielded about GH 1,000 cedis.