Sports
A call on security services
• Lawyer Kwame Asuah-Takyi
Recruitment into the security services was a period a lot of athletes – footballers, runners and boxers especially, looked forward to with hope.
These athletes were usually unemployed and rode on their participation in sports to get the attention of selectors into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) comprising Army, Navy and Airforce; Ghana Police Service (GPS), Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the then Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), now referred to as Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
For these services, the period represents one to strengthen their respective sports teams to show their prowess at the Security Services Sports Association (SESSA) games.
Those were the days sports enthusiasts would abandon a Ghana Premier League game at the sports stadium to watch a handball clash between Police and Prisons or Fire Service with any of the previous two.
Sports was exciting not only at the professional level but even at the amateur level where institutions aimed to be dominant.
That period appear to have gone with the wind. Currently, the SESSA games, which a few referred to as ‘Security Services Olympics’ has been put on hold for how long only God knows.
It has affected sports competition among the services, talent production as well as the few faithful that hopes to get into their preferred services through the power of sports.
In female football, the GIS female team, for instance, was one of the teams that dazzled fans because they had star-studded team comprising top players including onetime Ghana’s finest female midfielder, Florence Okoe.
In handball, Prisons, Police and Fire were able to create a vibrant atmosphere at the Prisons Sports Complex area in Cantonment.
They did same with volleyball and hockey.
Customs had no massive competitor in basketball where the Braves dominated not only in Ghana but the West African sub-region.
The latter parts of SESSA games saw a Prisons interest in boxing. That led to the recruitment of boxers like Musah Rahman Lawson, Jesse and Jerry Lartey, former captain of the Black Bombers Sulemana Tetteh and others.
Prisons suddenly became a force in boxing and overshadowed the Army which had a few professional boxers and were thought to be the real force.
The obvious decline of sports at this level should be a matter of concern for all.
However, one could say a return to that era is in sight if a pledge by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to recruit the five civilians on Team Ghana’s victorious arm-wrestling team at the 13th Africa Games in Accra was to come to pass.
During a call on the Comptroller General Immigration (CGI), ‘Vandal’ Lawyer Kwame Asuah Takyi to present some of the medals won by the team, the Service minced no words about its intention to recruit the five civilians in the visiting party.
Two of the armwrestlers were GIS staff and a third, a Deputy Coach of the gold medal winning Black Princesses, Anita Wiredu Mintah.
That obviously makes it incomplete when the history of Ghana’s armwrestling at the Games is written without the mention of the GIS.
This must be a shining example the various services must emulate because indirectly, it will boost Ghana sports.
This is not a story for armwrestling alone. It cuts across the many sports disciplines/federations that raise teams comprising of talented but unemployed athletes who are unable to focus on their chosen endeavour because of ‘bread and butter’ issues.
Some of these sportsmen and women may never find themselves on protocol lists of the political elites but could stand on international podium to highlight the achievement of the state in sports in big international events.
Like the Immigration boss put it, the Service has enjoyed free branding, free publicity just because its staff excelled in armwrestling. This should be a challenge to all the services and revisit the era where the recruitment of sports personnel was a priority.
By Andrew Nortey
A Ghana Premier League (GPL) thriller is anticipated at the Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow as Asante Kotoko welcome Medeama SC for their week 12 top-liner.
Fourth placed Kotoko sits two points below Medeama SC who are third on the log. Their position on the log further adds another layer to the fiercest battle expected to unfold.
Before their second round game last season, the two sides shared two wins apiece in their last four league meetings in Kumasi. However, Coach Abdul Karim Zito inflicted a 3-2 victory on the Yellow and Mauves side with former striker Albert Amoah grabbing all three goals.
Tomorrow, Amoah will not be in action and since his departure from the club, Coach Zito’s side have found the going tough in front of goal, a factor that could determine this game.
Kotoko go into tomorrow’s fixture on the back of losing their unbeaten run in 11 games after being beaten 2-1 by Basake Holy Stars on Wednesday in their outstanding Week 3 league fixture.
Before that clash, the University of Ghana Sports Stadium will today host the game between Hearts of Oak and Vision FC.
Hearts coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani hopes his side will carry the day after two draws on the road while coach Nana Kweku Agyemang of Vision FC is also aiming to pick his first victory over the Phobians.
League leaders Aduana FC will trek to the Bibiani Dun’s Park to play as guests of Bibiani Gold Stars tomorrow while second placed Heart of Lions welcome Karela United to the Kpando Stadium.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park, Bechem United will welcome Hohoe United, Berekum Chelsea will face Samartex FC at the Golden City Park in Berekum while Basake Holy Stars will host Nations FC at the Ampian AAK II Sports Arena in Azulewanu.
In other games, Swedru All Blacks will host Young Apostles at the Swedru Stadium with Eleven Wonders chasing their first victory of the season against Dreams FC on Monday at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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Government has injected more than 3.4 billion cedis into the National Health Insurance Scheme after the removal of the cap on NHIS funding.
The Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Operations, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, told staff in Tamale that the move is the biggest investment in the Scheme since it was created in 2003.
He explained that the additional funds are already strengthening health financing across the country.
Dr Kwesi Djokoto addressed a trainer of trainers workshop on the ongoing reforms of the National Health Insurance Authority on Friday, November 21.
He noted that in 2024 the Scheme used 52 percent of its resources on claims and is using 65 percent this year, with plans to increase that figure again next year.
He explained that Executive Management, led by Chief Executive Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, is working to build a modern and efficient Scheme that focuses on people and meets its promise of providing fair access to quality health care.
Dr Kwesi Djokoto also outlined the Authority’s digital reforms, which are meant to bring health services closer to members and make the Scheme more resilient.
The initiatives form part of the Telehealth strategy and include the E pharmacy platform, which links patients to nearby pharmacies, the Biometric Membership Authentication System that verifies members seeking care, and a cashless system at registration centres.
He noted that these reforms are designed to improve access to quality health care and support Ghana’s goal of achieving Universal Health Care by 2030.
The Northern Regional Operations Manageress, Madam Fauzia Shingu Alhassan, welcomed participants on behalf of the Regional Director.
She stated that the training is part of reforms aimed at redefining the NHIS and making it sustainable.
She added that the digital upgrades represent major changes that will make the Scheme more efficient, accessible, and trustworthy.
The workshop brought together officials of the Ghana Health Service, the Christian Health Association of Ghana, private health providers, and a representative of the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Mr Gaeten Adangabey.
The Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Oswald Essuah Mensah, and the Acting Deputy Director of MIS, Mr Orison Aflu, took participants through the design of the digital platforms and how they will be rolled out next year.
Other officials present included the Acting Director of MIS, Mr Vitus Kaleo Bioh, Acting Director of the Claims and Illegal Payments Taskforce, Mr Isaac Gideon Akonde, the Head of Communication, Madam Faustina Dery, the Acting Deputy Director of Marketing, Madam Angela Asiedu, and the Acting Deputy Director of Client and Provider Relations, Madam Hamdiya Yakubu.
By: Jacob Aggrey
