Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo in a group photograph with the award winners and officials from the Sports Directorate
The University of Ghana Sports Directorate has presented the 2021 Ghana Fastest Human and the Ghana Universities Debate Championship trophies to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo.
Delivering his opening remarks, the Director of Sports, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, on behalf of staff of the Sports Directorate, congratulated the Vice-Chancellor on her appointment as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University. He noted that the Directorate was the first outfit to present laurels to her since her induction into office. He added that the visit was to motivate student athletes who represented the University in external competitions during the year and excelled.
Dr. Bitugu briefed the Vice-Chancellor on the University’s participation in the 7th Ghana Universities Debate Championship (GUDC) which was held at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani. He mentioned that since the University won the competition in 2014, the Open Debate Category trophy eluded it until the last competition. This was despite the fact that the University always performed excellently in the Public Speaking and Adjudication categories in Ghana, Africa and the world in the last couple of years. The Director of Sports was grateful to the Vice-Chancellor for approving the University’s participation at the next World Universities Debate Championship.
Prof. Amfo receiving the trophy from the debate team
Mr. Lawrence Nii Kotey Neequaye, an alumnus of the University and Coach of the Debate Team thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the support of the University over the period and highlighted the performance of the Debate Team in the Championship. Mr. Neequaye announced that Messrs. Elisha Owusu Akyaw, a Level 200 student reading Political Science, Philosophy and Classics and Abdul Karim Ibrahim an M.Phil student reading African Studies were the Champions of the Open Debate Category. Both Elisha and Karim were adjudged the Best Speakers of the Championship. Other award winners were Priscilla Owusu, Best New Judge; Erasmus Agbo, 3rd Best New Judge; Eunice Asare, 5th Best Public Speaker; Lois Osei-Sekyere, 7th Best Novice Speaker; Abdul Mutalib Iddrisu and Elikem Dennis Ahorsu both 8th Best Novice Speakers.
The Director of Sports also presented Ms. Grace Obour to the Vice-Chancellor, for winning the 2021 Ghana Fastest Human Competition. Ms. Obour, a Level 200 student of BA Sport and Physical Culture Studies, is currently the 3rd Best 400 meters runner in Africa; 2020 Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games 400 meters Gold Medalist and the Bearer of the Queen’s Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022, England.
Grace Obour presenting her trophy to the Vice-Chancellor
Impressed by the remarkable achievements, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, commended the Director of Sports and Staff of the Sports Directorate for the victories achieved in the various competitions. Prof. Amfo regarded the wins as a demonstration of teamwork, adding that the University recognises and values everyone playing their role to get the anticipated results. The Vice-Chancellor praised Dr. Bitugu for his leadership and promised her continuous support for the Directorate.
Professor Amfo also congratulated Ms. Grace Obour on her accomplishments which put the University in the limelight and thanked her for making the University proud. She added that the University was looking forward to seeing her accomplish greater feats and tasked the Director of Sports to identify and nurture more of her kind.
Prof. Amfo addressing the gathering
She advised members of the Debate Society to capitalise on their talent to become experts in the discipline. “As an institution, we are interested in the holistic development of students. As students, you must know your subjects but even better, you must develop yourselves in such a way that you are able to present yourselves well to the outside public,” she stated.
Professor Amfo indicated that the trophy had come “home”, so the Sports Directorate should ensure that it stays “home” in the subsequent years. She declared the University’s unflinching support for the student athletes and encouraged them to continue to soar higher as ambassadors of the University.
The 2021 GUDC Champion and President of the University of Ghana Debate Society, Elisha Owusu Akyaw, was grateful to God for the victory after six years of relentless efforts. On behalf of his teammates and the Debate Society, he expressed appreciation to University Senior Management, the Sports Directorate and every stakeholder who supported them in their preparations before and during the competition. He assured the Vice-Chancellor that the Team will defend the trophy at the next edition of the debate competition.
Present at the presentation were the Senior Assistant Registrar at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mrs. Arhizah Blay-Abiti, Senior Assistant Registrar at the Sports Directorate, Mr. Augustine Amissare and some staff of the Sports Directorate.
