A four-day retreat has been held at Tutu Akwapem in the Eastern Region by the Sports Directorate of the University of Education (UEW).
The retreat brought together honorary coaches from the Directorate to orient and equip newly appointed staff on various aspects of their work, review Sports Directorate activities for the 2020-2021 academic year, and draft the framework for engaging Colleges of Education affiliated with UEW on sports and recreation.
The four-day retreat was on the theme “Charting a new era of sports and recreation in UEW”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of UEW, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, said the Sports Directorate should re-project the new era of sporting activities at UEW in a manner that will include staff and other members of the University. According to the Ag. VC sports could be used as a tool to brand the University.
“Recently management approved a programme for the Directorate for athletes who turned up for weekends training to have free breakfast and approved the camping clinic for coaches to assess the fitness level of athletes,” Prof. Andy Birikorang revealed.
He stated that the upgrade of Amalgamated Sports to a Directorate speaks of the excellent work which had been done over the years. He assured the Directorate of the appointment of coaches to augment the existing number when financial clearance is given.
The Ag.VC also assured participants of improving the sporting facilities including the athletics oval at the University hall, construction of more facilities at Ajumako campus. He urged the honorary coaches to support the team to bring more laurels and glory to the University.
Prof. Andy paid glowing tribute to William Amponsah and Lariba Sakat for lifting the UEW flag high by winning gold in long-distance champions both male and female in Confederacy of African athletes region two (2) marathon in Nigeria and also winning 2021 Asante Akyem 21 kilometres marathon race.
On his part, the Chairman of Sports Directorate, Dr. Kwame Kyere Diabour, outlined several activities that the Directorate will undertake in the coming academic year. These he said will include developing and implementing a programme of activities to involve staff of the University in friendly matches, evaluation of our sports facilities in line with our responsibility to the Corporate Strategic Plan- 2019-2023, refresher Course for appointed honorary coaches and auxiliary staff and organising a capacity building workshop for its staff in the first semester, a Committee to review the sports policy to conform to the new UEW statutes, the continuation of the enhanced weekend training programme, and collaborate with the Institute for Teacher Education and Continuous Professional Development and the affiliated colleges of education, to nurture talents at the Colleges of Education.
Dr. Kwame Kyere Diabour thanked the Ag. VC Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang since it was the first time in the history of Amalgamated Sports Clubs cum Sports Directorate that a Vice-Chancellor of our University was attending its annual retreat. He said this had brought joy and energised members ahead of the coming academic year.
Credit: Ghananews247
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