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Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has reiterated the urgent need to promote a culture of recreation across all parts of Ghana to foster a healthier, more active, happier, and united nation.
He emphasized the importance of institutionalizing a vibrant National Recreation Day each year to highlight the power of wellness, healthy living, social bonding, and cultural pride.
The Minister made this call on Monday during the official launch of the National Recreation and Wellness Programme (NaRWP) at Mantse Agbonaa in James Town, Accra.
This edition of the programme was themed: "Play More, Live Well – The Ga-Mashie Edition."
The NaRWP, fully endorsed by President John Dramani Mahama under his national reset agenda, is a bold nationwide initiative aimed at promoting active lifestyles, improving public health, and enhancing community cohesion.
It includes structured recreational activities, wellness campaigns, physical education in schools, and rehabilitation programs.
The launch event was organized in collaboration with Mr Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio Constituency. Participants, drawn from various communities, were grouped into teams and engaged in a variety of competitive and fun-filled games.
These included both modern and traditional Ghanaian sports such as oware, ludo, ampe, draught, tug of peace, rope challenges, football, tennis, and volleyball, with trophies, exciting prizes, and giveaways awarded to the winners.
In one of the standout moments of the event, both Minister Kofi Adams and MP Alfred Ashie competed on opposing teams in a playing cards tournament.
Mr Ashie also joined in the volleyball competition, helping his side, Team James Town, emerge as the overall champions of the games. The team was presented with a large trophy by the Minister in recognition of their performance.
The launch drew high-profile attendees, including: Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, former MP and Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Sports Sub-Committee, Kobena Woyome, Chief Director of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Wilhelmina Asamoah, Special Assistant to the Sports Minister (Technical), Betty Krosbi Mensah, and several community leaders and stakeholders.
The event was open to the general public, welcoming schools, youth groups, fitness clubs, senior citizens’ associations, and healthcare volunteers.
A mass aerobics session and free health screening were also held, underscoring the programme’s inclusive and community-driven focus.
“Being active today is essential to staying alive tomorrow. Exercising and playing physically and mentally stimulating games is the best assurance of good health,” said Minister Adams in his address.
He added that the programme was in line with President Mahama’s vision to create and sustain a healthy and dynamic youth population:
“President Mahama sees the youth as key to our future, and that’s why provisions have been made to promote their wellbeing. This initiative will not end here; it will be replicated in every region across the country.”
MP Alfred Kotey Ashie noted the historical significance of hosting the event in Odododiodio on a day commemorating the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, who also served as the first MP for the constituency in 1949.
“It’s a great day for us here in Odododiodio and for the nation at large. Dr. Nkrumah was our first MP, so it’s only fitting that we’re chosen to kick-start this national wellness initiative on his birthday. This reflects our ongoing commitment to healthy living and national development,” he said.
He concluded with a call to action: “Let’s all leave here determined to practice and maintain healthy lifestyles. A healthy people make a wealthy nation.”
