HFC Bank present items towards 2016 Youth Athletics Festival

By Edna A. Quansah, GNA
Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - HFC Bank, a member of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) of Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday presented sporting kits and awards to the Ghana Education Service (GEC) in support of this year's Youth Athletics Festival.

The 2016 edition of the Youth Athletics is scheduled for September 1 and 2 in Sunyani and its expected to showcase a host of talented young men and women competing in various athletic disciplines.

At a short ceremony held at the Bank's premises in Accra, the GES received the items made up of 108 medals (36 each of Gold, Silver and Bronze), 70 polo shirts, 640 athletics vests, 150 certificates of merit and 300 copies of the event brochure.

The presentation ceremony follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in June between HFC and the Ghana Education Service (GES), to provide a three- year sponsorship for the Youth Athletic Festival with an initial amount of GH¢125,000.00.

The Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Robert Le Hunte, said the presentation was the Bank's way of re-affirming its commitment to youth development in Ghana.

Mr. Le Hunte said 'HFC Bank and its parent company, Republic Financial Holdings Limited believe in the youth of Ghana and their potentials to redefine Ghana's name in the books of International Athletics.'

He encouraged the sports fraternity to dream big on the back of the just ended Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He used the opportunity to initiate the 'Ghana Tokyo Gold' agenda (GTG); aimed at urging Ghana to strive for gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic.

The Director of Physical Education unit of GES, Mr. Emmanuel Dormenyah, pledged support for the GTG initiative and reiterated that the goal of Ghana winning gold at the next Olympics Games would become a reality.

Mr. Dormenya Director of Sports at GES, also commended HFC Bank for fulfilling their promise of supporting youth athletics in the country.

This year's edition of the Youth Athletics Festival has received high publicity primarily as a result of the sponsorship from HFC Bank. The sponsorship has come at a time when increased calls have been made on corporate Ghana to devote resources to the development of other sports.

The HFC Bank's support of athletics in Ghana stems from the Bank's belief that its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments should lead to long-term social impact. It is expected that this partnership with the GES will help identify, groom and develop athletes who will be capable of winning medals at the Olympics and other international laurels for the nation.

GNA