The Kpandai MP, Daniel Nsala Wakpal, has said that football, as a game loved by Ghanaians could be used to maintain peaceful co-existence among the youth in the Region and the nation.

He was speaking at a maiden football festival organised for his constituency to end the year 2021.

“Sports have undeniably become a great avenue of peacebuilding, community cohesion and economic prospects for young talented people in Ghana and worldwide.

“Football events like this gives a chance not only for bonding and recognising winners within our communities but gives a chance to showcase and discover great talent.

“Football competitions like this teach us how to work in harmony with other people, accept defeats with equal ease and work as a very united cluster of communities,” he said.

The MP also added that he will ensure that talented individuals in the constituency pursue football as a career that would eventually take their minds off drugs and other crimes that society frowns upon.

According to him, the continuous despair among the youth regarding unemployment could be brought under control when football is harnessed to its fullest.

“It will be historic to have sons of Kpandai play for the national team. As unemployment geometrically lingers as the year goes by, football competitions like this fill us with enthusiasm which is a vital change from the cycle of continuous despair and in most cases prevent the unemployed teen from engaging in drug and substance abuse,” he said.

Mr. Wakpal also called for a broader national conversation on developing sports in the country by way of nurturing talents for the benefit of the individuals and the state.

“The motive is to emulate the strategies great nations like England, Germany and the likes implemented decades ago in their bid to eradicate unemployment and give opportunity to their young ones to have a decent livelihood which in the long run grew their economy,” he stated.

“My objective is to invest massively into planning, structuring, growing and rebranding the team acquired so they can compete all the way to the Ghana Premier League, CAF Championship and the Club World Cup as this will gradually reduce the unemployment situation amongst our teeming youth within the constituency,” he added.

Mr. Wakpal expressed his appreciation to the chief and elders in the constituency for their support and ensuring peaceful co-existence over the years.

“I want to thank the chiefs, the elders, the coordinators and organisers of this competition and everyone who played a role to make the event successful and also to thank the spectators from the various communities who came not only to watch the game but also to cheer their individual communities to victory for that is the spirit and sense of support and association.”