Sports Ministry and GES in support of 2nd National Road Baton Relay

By Emmanuel Asante Attakora, GNA
Accra, June 30, The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) and the Ghana Education Service have given their consent to the 2nd National Road Baton Relay, slated for 1st July, 2016, in Accra.

The 30-kilometre National Baton Road Relay Marathon, which is meant to promote and inculcate into the youth, the need to blend academic work with sports, is the first of its kind with schools from all the various regions in the country registering athletes for both the male and female categories.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, who was the special guest of honour at the launch in Accra, said he was happy to represent MoYS in making sure such a laudable idea was accomplished.

Mr. Oppong Asamoah, said 'students should take their studies seriously and combine it effectively with sports to make a better life for themselves and mother Ghana. Pursuing only academic work without sports is not the best way to develop.'

'I encourage students to take part in this road relay, it might be fun but you might turn out to be the winner and get to discover your talent,' he added.

According to the CEO for Dreamland sports plus, Mr. Emmanuel Ola William, the MoYS and GES have fully endorsed the event thereby given the various school the go ahead to participate.

'A programme of such nature cannot be possible without the consent of MoYS and GES, we are in constant talks with both units and they have been of great support, without which we wouldn't have been able to even get such great sponsorships.'

According to the organizers, the route for the event which starts from baatsona total and end at the Accra sports stadium is: Baatsona Total Filling Station â†'Sakumono Junction Station â†' Nungua Police Barrier â†' Channel 5 â†' Teshie 1st Junction â†' La Scalaâ†' Kofi Annan Centre â†' La Palm Beach Hotel â†' Jokers â†' Osu Police station â†'Osu Blorgodo â†' Osu Presby churchâ†' Oxford street â†' Danquah circleâ†' Police Headquarters â†' Ako Adjei interchange [up] â†' Liberation Road â†' Liberation circle Efua Sutherland Park â†' National theatreâ†' Cedi Houseâ†' Trade Union Congress (TUC) â†' Farisco (Kwame Nkrumah Avenue) â†' Trust Bank â†' Graphic Road â†' GHAMOT â†' MTNâ†' Obetsebi Lamptey Circle â†' Abossey Okai Traffic lightsâ†' Great Odartey Lamptey School â†' Zongo Junction â†' Radio Gold â†' Mamprobi Salvation â†' Mamprobi Post Office â†' White House â†' Shalom Shalom â†' Lavender Hills â†' Mantse Agbonaa (James Town) â†' Ussher Port â†' Standard Chartered Bank [Head Office] â†' Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum â†' Ghana Customs and Exercise( CEPS Head Office )â†' Ministries Police Station â†' Ministries Traffic Lightâ†' G.E.S Headquarters â†' Stadium Clinic â†' Accra Sports Stadium.

The marathon which has a baton change at every 5-kilometers covered by an athlete will have the change-over at the following points, starting from Baatsona filling station (Spintex road) with 1st change-over point at Nungua channel 5(Goil filling station). The 2nd change-over point will be the Next Door (Teshie), with the 3rd change-over point at Jokers (la) and the 4th change-over point at the Cedi House.

The 5th change-over point will be at the Great Lamptey Mills School with athletes finishing at the Accra sports stadium.

The event which is being supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana Athletes Association (GAA), is proudly sponsored by Vitatop Chocolate Drink, Mcvities Digestive, Bluecrest University College, Maybek Services Ltd and Berlin Sports.