The University of Cape Coast has hosted and won the Eighth Mini Ghana University Sports Association Games.

UCC won the games with 20 gold 12 silver and 6 bronze medals. The University for Development Studies placed second position with 13 gold 11 silver and 13 bronze medals whiles the University of Ghana took the third position with 4 gold 9 silver and 10 bronze medals. The University of Education Winneba placed fourth position with 1 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze medal whiles the fifth position was taken by University of Energy and Natural Resource. The University of Professional Studies, Accra, University of Mines and Technology and the University of Health and Allied Sciences placed sixth position with no medal.

Vice-Chancellor’s Closing Remarks

In his speech at the closing ceremony of the 8th Mini Gusa Games at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, the Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, remarked that University Sports formed the catalyst for national sports development. He said   through the participation of the various universities from different parts of the nation, there has been a sense of national sports development. He congratulated UCC team for winning the competition as defending champions and commended UDS for taking the second place in competition. “For the rest of the teams, I will say you have done well by representing your universities and I wish you better luck next time,” he remarked.

Prof Ampiah congratulated all the sportsmen and women on their sterling performance at the 10-day competition. He commended the officials of the games, heads of institutions and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, UCC, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh for organising the games successfully.

Government must Equip Universities with Advance Sports Infrastructure

The Ag. President of GUSA, Dr. Charles Domfeh appealed to government to support tertiary institutions in the country by providing advance sports infrastructure to produce quality sportsmen and women for the country. He added that “University sports has been the pillar on which successful countries all over the world have developed”.  

Appreciation

Dr. Domfeh commended the sportsmen and women for their high sense of discipline and comportment throughout the 10-day stay in UCC.  He thanked the Regional Minister, Hon. Kwamena Duncan and the Central Regional Director for National Sports Authority, Mr. Osarfo Adjei, for the release of the stadium for the GUSA sports activities.

The Ag. President of GUSA expressed profound gratitude to the Management of UCC for agreeing to host the Mini GUSA for the third time in less than a month’s notice adding that “By this action, UCC has demonstrated to the whole country that with the availability of facilities and expertise coupled with institutional management dedication, readiness and love for sports, the sky will be the limit for sports development”.  

Dr. Domfeh thanked the people of Cape Coast for their presence, technical men and women, management and staff of all public universities who made significant contributions towards the success of the GUSA Games.

Advice to Sportsmen and women

 To the sports men and women, he indicated that “I know how difficult is it to combine studies with sports but with proper planning and dedication you can always make it.” He noted that though the system did not allow them to sacrifice sports at the expense of academics; they needed to combine both sports and academics effectively to succeed. He announced that some of the sports men and women would be selected to represent Ghana in the World University Games-Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) Games from July 3-14, 2019 in Napoli, Italy.

 To the media, he urged them to dedicate an aspect of their programmes to promote academic sports. “You have a lot of coverage so you can target our Basic School Sports, Second Cycle Sports and University/Tertiary Institution Sports. Give it a trial, nurture it, and it will be one of the best brands of media coverage in Ghana,” he noted.

Closing Remark by LoC Chairperson

The Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chairperson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, UCC, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, thanked all the Vice Chancellors, especially, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, Registrars (from UCC, UDS UG) and Institutional Reps for their immense professional, moral, and emotional support as well as their presence. She expressed appreciation to the authorities and staff of Cape Coast Stadium, Robert Mensah Stadium and other sports facilities which were used for the GUSA Games.

Below was the Overall Medal Table for the 8th Mini GUSA Games which was hosted by UCC:

8TH MINI GUSA GAMES

OVERALL MEDAL TABLE

Deserving sportsmen and women teams were presented with certificates, medals and trophies at the closing ceremony.