The Royal Senchi Hotel has organised the fourth edition of its annual boat racing competition to mark Ghana’s 63rd Independence Day.
The sporting event took place in Akosombo on Friday, March 6, and drew together a horde of holidaymakers and enthusiasts of the sport including some senior citizens.
The event features on the hotel’s calendar as a social activity for the national holiday as well as a window for the discovery of athletes for the water sport.
The Overlord of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, who has been a committed patron of the annual regatta, was present to grace to the year’s event with his Adentemhene, Nana Kwame Yeboah-Afari. Also in attendance was the Queenmother of Peki Avetile, Asor Owusua I.
Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, and the District Chief Executive for the area, Hon. Samuel Kwame Agyekum were among personalities present at the well-attended event.
Followers of the sport from all walks of life and supporters of the participating teams gathered at the riverfront resort at about 11 am on Friday to witness an exhilarating display of skill and performance in the four-hour regatta event.
Six teams from communities within the riparian area of Asuogyaman including Atimpoku, Senchi, Adomi and others, contested in a 100, 200 and 500-metre canoe-racing events, which was climaxed with a 2-kilometre marathon starting from the Adomi Bridge to the hotel’s end of the Lake.
According to the hotel, the event was initiated four years ago to among other things, revive the sport of regatta and nurture the interest of the youth in the sport.
Link with Independence Day celebrations
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Nana Kojo Boahene, a member of the organising committee said the event was set for the national holiday, as it is reminiscent of the early days of Ghana’s Independence celebrations.
He added that as a sport, the hotel hoped to promote regatta to provide the youth with opportunities as the other sports disciplines.
“This event is organised on Ghana’s Independence Day to bring back some of the activities that used to be very popular back in the day,” he noted.
On his part, District Chief Executive highlighted the benefits of entertainment, saying it among other things, helped one to stay fit and work hard to make wealth.
He congratulated the athletes for what he described as an impressive performance, urging them to be unflagging in pursuing the sport at higher levels, and aiming for the bullseye in the discipline.
He mentioned that his outfit would consider the possibilities of supporting future editions of event, saying it ought to be organised on a bigger scale.
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III commended the teams and organisers for pulling off such an event, adding that he was particularly happy that the Volta Lake was being used for other beneficial purposes besides its primary purpose.
By Clifford Yaw Frimpong- Accra, Daily Mail GH
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