The Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) has climaxed the 28th Inter-University Cross Country and Minor Games with an awards night ceremony at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in Somanya, Eastern Region.
The week-long competition brought together sixteen public universities across the country, celebrating athletic excellence, teamwork, and youth development in tertiary sports. By the end of the contest, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) was crowned the overall winner.
Talent Development
Held under the theme “Harnessing the Lesser-Known Sports: The Key to Developing the 21st Century Sportsman,” the event featured a variety of sports disciplines, including cross-country, 2.5-kilometre mixed relay, ampe, scrabble, and tug-of-war.
Participating universities included UESD (host), University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Ghana (UG), KNUST, University for Development Studies (UDS), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), and University of Education, Winneba (UEW).
Others were the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), and the University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS).
Next Generation
Speaking to the media in Somanya, GUSA President Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko explained that the decision to host the games at UESD was strategic — aimed at helping the young university gain visibility and grow into one of Ghana’s leading tertiary institutions.
He appealed for increased support for the GUSA Games, describing it as an important platform for nurturing and discovering sporting talent at the tertiary level.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr Kwame Poku, said UESD’s decision to host the event was inspired by the camaraderie and exposure gained from last year’s competition. Hosting, he said, would help “advertise the university” and attract potential students across the country.
Commendation
The Head Coach of KNUST, Mr Emman Abban, praised his athletes for their commitment and hard work, which earned them the overall victory.
He encouraged students to take sports seriously, stressing that it can open doors to national and international opportunities.
Mr Abban also urged corporate bodies and sponsors to support the GUSA Games, noting that the competition is capital-intensive but vital for unearthing Ghana’s future sporting talents.
