The Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) based in Takoradi has won the fifth edition of the Annual Osagyefo Cup Competition Which was held at the Half Assini Senior School in the Jomoro District of the Western Region in honour of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's birthday celebration last Monday.
The 'Giants of the West' as popularly known beat their counterparts Kikam Technical Institute (KIMTECH) also based in the Ellembele District by 4-2 on penalties after sixty minutes of goalless.
The Giant's goalie, Master Frempong Manso, who was adjudged the best goalie of the tournament, stole the show with his antics where he denied KIMTECH three penalties leading his team to lift the trophy as first timers.
GSTS being the first entrants in the competition got to the finals after topping their group with eight points whiles KIMTECH also made it after beating host Hasco to seal to the finals in their group.
Other awardees include, Master Solomon Pamford of GSTS who was adjudged the best player of the tournament, Isaac Annan of GSTS also got the best Defender award. Nsein senior high school was also named as the Fair play team of the tournament, Master Kofi Agbomafo of Annor Adjaye Senior High School got the goal king award whiles Mr. Emmanuel Asmah was adjudged the best coach of the tournament.
The 2015 champions took away a giant trophy, cash prize of one thousand cedis (1000gh), gold medals, a set of Jersey and certificates of honour, the second position team also had silver medals, cash prize of five hundred cedis (500gh), a set of Jersey and certificates of honour, the third and fourth positions also took set of jerseys each, bronze medals for the third team thus host school Hasco.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Chairman for the occasion and Chief of Half Assini Nana Ayebi Amihere IV who spoke on behalf of Awulea Annor Adjaye III, Paramount Chief of Western Nzema Traditional Area admonished the participants to be serious with their academic and remain focus in the daily lives.
He also advised them to ensure to keep their surroundings clean since 'cleanliness is next to Godliness' as well as remember to learn from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's humble and exemplary lifestyle.
Nana Amihere IV further commended the organisers for their good work in Nzemaland and urged them to continue heralding activities that is targeted at promoting education and sports in the region especially in the rural parts of the country.
The Special Guest of Honour Mr. Daniel K. Eshun, the DCE for Ellemebele who represented the Member of Parliament for Ellembele and Minister for Petroleum Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah encouraged the participants to strive to emulate the selfless and determined lifestyle of Dr. Nkrumah in their everyday life, since it will enable them to become very useful to the society.
He assured that his office will continue to partner with the organisers in their endeavours aimed at projecting Nzemaland through education and sports.
On his part, the Chairman of Nzema Events Management, promoters of the annual Osagyefo Cup, Senator David Cobbina Brigidi, in his speech entreated all community and opinion leaders as well as the various stakeholders to rid their surroundings of filth by weeding, burning, avoid littering indiscriminately, adding that 'it is only by actively getting this crusade going that we as people could easily zero in on a potential disease outbreak and offer a firsthand protection before it does anybody harm'.
He stressed that Nzema Events Management being one of the professional outfit with its focus on promoting rural events will continue to bring to bear events that would seek to promote, identify talents as well as bring the people together for a common goal.
Mr. Brigidi further expressed his profound appreciation to the sponsors such as Tullow Ghana Limited, Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Karela Group and Office of Ellembele Member of Parliament as well as supporting donors such as the Offices of Ellembele, Prestea Huni Valley, Jomoro, Nzema East Municipal and Wassa East District Assemblies respectively as well as the Offices of the Members of Parliament for Wassa East and Prestea Huni Valley.
The Chairman of Nzema Zone Schools and Colleges Sports Federation who doubles as the Western Region schools and Colleges Sports Federation Chairman Rev D. Y. Amaning congratulated the organisers for the good initiate and urged them to consider more schools in the Nzemaland in subsequent years.
The event was participated by ten (10) Senior and Technical High Schools from seven Municipal and District Assemblies in the Western namely, Half Assini Senior High School (HASCO), Annor Adjaye Senior High school (ANASS) all from the Jomoro District, Fiaseman Senior High school (FIASEC) in the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality, Huni/Valley Senior High school (HUNIVAS) in the Prestea Huni Valley District, Daboase Secondary and Technical school (DASTECH) in the Wassa East District, Nsein Senior High school (Nseinsco) in the Nzema East Municipality, Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) in the Takoradi Metropolis, Kikam Technical Institute (KIMTECH), Essiama Secondary Technical School (ESTS) and Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School all in the Ellembele District.
The theme for this year's event was dubbed "A Clean Ghana: Attitude makes a Difference", will seek to promote good sanitation among the students and the citizenry especially along the coast belt of the region.