The 28th Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) Games have officially begun with a vibrant opening ceremony held at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the Central Regional capital.
The 15-day event, which runs from January 3 to 18, brings together 15 universities to compete in 12 disciplines, including athletics, beach volleyball, goalball, handball, hockey, volleyball, basketball, football, netball, badminton, tennis, and table tennis.
The ceremony featured the hoisting of the GUSA flag and the flags of the participating universities, followed by the lighting of the Games Flame by Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Vice-Chancellor of UCC.
In his address, Professor Boampong noted the significance of sports in national development, stressing the need for stakeholders to provide universities with modern infrastructure to train and produce talents for national and global sporting events.
“I, therefore, call on all stakeholders, especially, the Government of Ghana to channel resources towards the upgrade and expansion of sports infrastructure in our universities,” he said.
“In addition, we are appealing to the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to extend scholarships to talented students in our universities to create a promising future for sports development, which eventually will be immensely beneficial to the nation.
“Professor Rosemond Boohene, the immediate past Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC and Chair of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), also highlighted the importance of sports in nurturing talent, promoting healthy lifestyles, and instilling essential values in students.
Mr. Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, the President of GUSA, expressed the Association’s commitment to providing support and platforms for student-athletes to thrive. “University sports are not just about competition; they are about building character, fostering teamwork, and promoting excellence,” he said.
