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Kurt Okraku motivates Nsoatreman FC ahead of debut CAF Confederation Cup
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has backed Nsoatreman FC to excel in their debut CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
Nsoatreman, which clinched the 2023-24 MTN FA Cup, will host Chadian Premier League side, Elect Sport FC, in the preliminary round of the 2024-25 Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup competition, on Sunday August 18, 2024 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
President Simeon-Okraku, who also witnessed the Division One League (DOL) Super Cup final at the Nana Konamansah Park, motivated the players and technical team to keep their focus and write their names in letters of gold.
“You carry the aspirations of over 30 million Ghanaians and I will urge you to keep the focus and take your training seriously,” President Simeon-Okraku told the players and technical staff.
“Playing in Africa comes with enormous benefits. It is my fervent hope and prayer that you will raise the flag of our country high as you embark on this adventure.”
He said, “Medeama and Dreams did very well last time and we’re confident about your prospects in the CAF Confederation Cup.”
According to him, “The Football Association will continue to offer its support to you in the best way that we can to ensure you deliver for our people. On behalf of myself, the Executive Council and Ghanaians, we wish you well as you begin the journey to conquer Africa.”
The Ghanaian side will mark their debut appearance in African inter-club competition at home when they host Elect Sport in the first leg of the round before travelling away for the second leg.
The Nsoatre-based side will use the Accra Sports Stadium as their home venue for the preliminary round of matches after CAF granted both Nsoatreman FC and Samartex 1996 (Ghana’s Champions League representatives) approval for the use of the facility.
The preliminary round will commence between August 16-18, 2024, and the winner of the two-leg tie will face the winner of the matchup between Algerian side CS Constantine and Police FC of Rwanda in the second round in September.
BISHOP Dr Richard Owusu Akyeaw, the Founder and General Overseer of Living Grace Ministries, has condemned the growing acts of indiscipline and lawlessness in second cycle institutions.
He called for a collective approach to reverse the trend, saying that discipline triggered academic excellence in achieving life successes.
Bishop Dr Akyeaw made the call when speaking at a durbar of parents, teachers, and students to climax the 15th anniversary celebration of the Standard School of Royals in Sunyani and praised the school authorities for the level of discipline among the students and pupils.
He noted that instilling a sense of discipline would improve academic performance of students and thereby advance academic growth and development in schools.
Bishop Dr Akyeaw said that:
“Excellence isn’t an event, but a habit formed through consistency and self-discipline,”
saying that any disciplined environment fostered confidence, creativity, and love for nation.
He commended the teachers of the school for the dedication in moulding the students and pupils responsibly and urged the school children to remain focused, obedient, and studious.
Mrs Vivian Adu Bonsu, the Proprietress of the School, expressed appreciation to God, management, teachers, and parents for the school’s academic successes.
She said despite some emerging challenges, the school remained committed to achieving its vision of churning out quality and well-behaved and morally upright graduates. –GNA
THE chiefs and people of Ntotroso in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region on Saturday celebrated their Apomasu Yam Festival at Ntotroso amidst pomp and pageantry.
The colourful festival, which featured a week-long activities including traditional cultural rites, was held under the Theme: ‘Mining and Tradition: Building Resilient Communities through Sustainable and Responsible Mining.’
It attracted a lot of guests including chiefs, politicians, businessmen and women, foreigners, school children and members of the public amidst drumming and dancing.
The Apomasu Yam Festival, celebrated biennially, honours the Apomasu deity believed to safeguard the community’s wellbeing.
The festival also served as a fundraiser to support ongoing educational infrastructure projects initiated by the Ntotroso Traditional Council.
Addressing the people, Barima Twereku Ampem III, Paramount chief of Ntotroso, said the Apomasu festival was not merely a celebration of harvest, but signifies a spiritual homecoming as well as a moment of thanksgiving to the Almighty God and to the ancestors for protecting the land, blessing the farms, and sustaining them.
The festival, he noted, symbolises renewal of unity, purpose and collective responsibility to protect the land entrusted to us.
Touching on the menace of illegal mining activities, Barima Twereku Ampem, who is also the president of the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, pledged the support of the chiefs and people in the area to complement government’s efforts at finding a lasting solution to the problem.
According to him, illegal mining remains a threat not only to our environment but to national security and long-term development of the country.
He, however, urged the government to ensure strict enforcement of the law, in a fair, consistent and transparent manner so as to deal with the menace.
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, who led the government delegation, commended the chiefs and people of Ntotroso for organising a successful festival.
He praised their commitment to be accountable and transparent in their dealings with the people.
“Most leaders finds it difficult to be accountable to their people. What you have shown here is a demonstration of your commitment to honesty and integrity—a virtue that must be emulated by who aspire to lead,” he stated.
He later donated a cash of Gh₵100,000 to support the celebration.
After more than 300 years of existence, Ntotroso has seen a lot of changes both the social and economic fronts.
From a largely subsistence local economy, Ntotroso and other surrounding communities have now been placed on the global map of gold producing areas following the acquisition of mining concession in 2003 by Newmont Ahafo Mines.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Ntotroso
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