Ghana Korea Friendship Marathon Held At Tema

The Ghana Korea Residents Association on Saturday organised its third annual 16-kilometre marathon at Tema as part of activities to foster unity among Ghanaians and the Korean community in the country.

Mr Yahaya Mutah, a resident of Tema who won the race received a 21-inch Samsung colour TV, Mr Emmanuel Odum placed second for a compact disc sound system and Mr Paul Okuddjeto took home a bicycle for the third prize.

Special prizes were awarded for the children and women who participated, with Master Yaw Duvor, an 11-year-old athlete receiving a special award for placing 12th among the 150 contestants, while Miss Mavis Arthur was honoured as the first woman to finish the competition. Master Jin Suk Lee, a 17 year Korean who placed 95th and Miss Yae Lim Nok, were the only Koreans who completed the marathon.

In all prizes ranging from soap, standing fans and sewing machines worth 15 million cedis were presented to those who placed from first to 10th positions and winners of a lucky dip raffle.

Mr Eui Min Jeong, the Korean Ambassador in Ghana noted that there are over 600 Koreans in Tema engaged in various business activities including fishing, trade, hotel and restaurants and modernisation of the Tema Oil Refinery in Tema.

The Ambassador who also participated in the 4.4 kilometre walk said the Annual Ghana-Korea Marathon and Walk competition should be seen as a way of sharing friendship and strengthening relationships between the peoples of the two countries.

Mr Suk Kil Han, Chairman of the Korea Residents Association said the competition keeps on improving every year and the Association intends to make it a major national event in the coming years.