President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kwasi Nyantakyi has pledged the commitment of the FA towards the fight against malaria in the country. Mr Nyantakyi said the GFA sees the fight against malaria as a social obligation hence the need to join forces with other organizations in the campaign against the disease. The FA president made these remarks during the opening of a press conference in Accra aimed at using football as campaign towards the fight against malaria organized by United Against Malaria (UAM). UAM is a partnership of football teams and heroes, celebrities, health advocacy organizations, governments, corporations and individuals who are united in spirit ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to fight against malaria. "We find the 3.2 million cases of malaria recorded each year in Ghana and the 20,000 children who die annually in a year due to malaria unacceptable. He added "In fact malaria has held back our country and our continent for far too long and we must wake up and kick it out". Mr Nyantakyi said the FIFA 2010 World Cup on the Africa soil is a historic occasion, which offers the continent great opportunity to up their game against malaria and to make a difference in the fight against disease. He said the FA will use football at all levels to promote resource generation in support of the campaign, adding that it will not end in South Africa but be sustained through the efforts of the various national teams, the Premier League and other lower divisions. "We want to ensure that no football player, in fact sports man or woman should fail to shine because malaria has downed him or her, a child or a relative has been knocked by malaria, when we all know very well that it is a preventable disease. Mr Nyantakyi appealed to corporate bodies, individuals and football teams to unite in the fight against malaria and its prevention. He later on behalf of 'Team Ghana United Against Malaria', the GFA and sports fraternity received Golden Boot Award Source: GNA