GHAPSA Games Open

THE 18th Ghana Polytechnics Association (GHAPSA) games successfully took off at Tamale last Monday.

With the exception of the Upper West and Upper East regions which are in their formative years, all the other polytechnics in the country are participating in the week-long games.

The participants would compete for laurels in football, athletics, basketball, volleyball and table tennis.

The institution that emerges the best in the games will represent the country in the West African Polytechnics Games to be held in Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria this year.

A ban was imposed on the games in 1995 as a result of unsporting behaviour by some participating institutions when Takoradi Polytechnic hosted it.

Before the opening match between the host institution, Tamale Poly and Cape Coast Poly, a minute silence was observed for the departed souls of victims of the Accra Stadium disaster.

In the match itself, Tamale Polytechnic won 4-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in full time.

In the men’s 1,500 metres, Abdallah Harruna of Tamale Poly was first in four minutes 6.36 seconds with Ahmed Alhassan of Cape Coast Poly following his heels in four minutes 10.39 seconds. Nicholas Bonnah was third in 4 minutes 11.84 seconds.

In the ladies division, Abibata Shrika and Augustina Abukari both of Tamale Poly were first and second in five minutes 30.15 seconds and five minutes, 41.23 seconds respectively while Augustina Agban of Cape Coast Poly was third in five minutes 59.01 seconds.