Exercise Physiologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Education-Winneba (UEW) Dr. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong is advocating for the ban on participation in contact in educational institutions to be lifted.
He made his case to end the ban that was introduced by the Ghana government as a measure to curb the spread of the COVID 19 virus at the peak of the pandemic.
However, COVID 19 related restrictions have been eased overtime and limited public gatherings are allowed for sports events and social events but the ban is still in place and Dr. Sarpong argues talented student-athletes are being denied the chance to show off their talents due to the ban and the ban needs to be lifted.
He made this plea in an article he penned that reads:
Accra Hearts of Oak played Kumasi
Asante Kotoko last Sunday in Accra. The match ended in a single goal
victory to the former. As a sports scientist, a sports coach, and a physical
education teacher with fair knowledge in epidemiology, I am still wondering why
the ban on school sports especially at the University is not lifted.
During last Sunday’s match, more than
100 students from my University travelled from Winneba to Accra to view the
Ghana version of Elclassico.
These die hard fans of the two
combatants travelled on passenger cars and had a lot of contact with people
during the travels and at the stadium. These students will come back later and
attend lectures without being tested for COVID 19. If these students can go and
watch football matches outside, come back to school and mix with colleagues,
then why can’t they play or watch their university organized sports?
In fact my analogy doesn’t even cover
students from other pre-tertiary and tertiary institutions who went to support
their teams. Again, some of our students are playing in the GFA organized
competitions and have not been diagnosed COVID 19 positive.
I therefore call on The Minister of Youth and Sports, the CEO of National
Sports Authority, President of GOC, President and Executive of GUSA, and all
stakeholders in the sporting fraternity to humbly appeal to Mr. President Nana
Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo to lift the ban on school sports so that our students
who are talented in sports can showcase what they have for the needed
development sports bring.
Share this if you want the ban on University sports lifted.
Thank you.
Dr Emmanuel Osei Sarpong
Exercise Physiologist and Senior Lecturer
University of Education, Winneba
0244518031
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
