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COMMUNITY
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SPORTS
Sporting activities are often used as tools for social
integration, social cohesion and peace building
processes in communities, irrespective of cultural,
religious or political background of residents.
The Yaa Asantewaa Rural Bank however wants to harness
the power of sports to positively engage local
communities to be economically empowered for sustainable
development.
The bank has instituted an annual sports competition for
some communities in the Ashanti region to help people to
transform their communities through socially-inclusive
economic ventures.
Board Chairman, Samuel Addo Otoo says the bank is
inspired by the prowess of the legendary Yaa Asantewaa
“who achieved all that she did, not only because she was
a queen mother or a brave woman but because she was also
healthy; at the moment we’re not dealing with colonial
masters but the major issue is with poverty and we
believe a healthy person can save more”.
Sixteen communities in the Ejisu traditional area
participated in the three-day Easter Football Gala,
whilst ten other localities in the Atwima Nwabiagya
District engaged in a variety of indoor games and track
events including sack race, tug-of-peace, draft, Ludo
and Oware.
The competition was under the theme: “A Healthy Person
Saves Even More Income”. Participating communities
learnt the important life skills including leadership,
teamwork, respecting rules, discipline and perseverance.
According to Mr. Otoo, sports is an important platform
for awareness creation on the importance of unity to
pool resources for wealth creation and to gain financial
independence.
People in the Atwima Nwabiagya district, for instance,
are being supported to establish the Atwima Co-operative
Credit Union to create employment, ease access to
business finance and mobilize resources to build a
health facility for the community.
“The sporting activities are therefore aimed at
supporting communities to live healthy lifestyles to
reduce their medical bills, improve surplus income and
channel resources to Yaa Asantewaa Rural Bank; we have
various products and accounts that they can put their
money in towards their future development and personal
life goals”, noted Mr. Otoo.
The Ejisu tournament was won by Ampabame All Stars who
beat Ejisu Warriors in a 6:5 penalty shootout. Finalists
took home cash rewards.
Ejisumanhene, Nana Afranie Okesse IV, who presented the
trophy to the winning team, was excited at the outcome
of the event.
He announced plans to organize similar sporting event
for institutions and professions in the Ejisu
Municipality on May 1 |
