The Ministry of Youth and Sport, on Saturday, said it would this month award contract for the construction of multi-purpose courts in all the regions of the country. Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Nortey Dua said AngloGold Ashanti had provided the funds for the first four to be constructed in the Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern and Upper West Regions. He announced this after a health walk organised by the Ghana National Teachers Association (GNAT) as part of the World Teachers' Day activities for this year. The theme for celebration is: "Recovery begins with Teachers." World Teachers Day, held annually on October 5, since 1994, commemorated the anniversary of the signing in 1966 of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. It is an occasion to celebrate the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels. The cost effective courts, Nii Nortey Duah said, would be designed to make them a one-stop shop for table tennis, hand ball, volley ball and other disciplines. He lauded GNAT for the initiative and noted that walking to keep fit should not be seen as an endurance exercise alone but a leisure one, adding, his ministry supports health initiatives. Dr. Eugene Dordoye, a psychiatrist, and a member of the Ghana Medical Association Advocacy Unit, who gave a talk on Stress Management, noted that managing stress is all about taking charge. "Taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems," she explained. "The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation and fun - plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on." He cited death, marriage and divorce, promotion and demotion as some common stresses, adding that, the simple realization that you are in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Using stress journals and the adoption of the four As, (Avoid, Alter, Adapt and Accept) he said, could be very helpful and explained that it was better to avoid the stressor, alter it if possible, adapt and move on or accept it as it is. . Mr David Acheampong, Metro GNAT Secretary, told the GNA that because health was very important, it was the duty of the leadership to inculcate in every member the need for physical commitment to cut down medical expenses, adding that, the issue of the walk would be revisited and if possible make it once every month. The walk, which went to the Trades Union Congress traffic Lights, through the National Theatre, Stadium Road, Parliament House, the Psychiatrist Hospital and back to the GNAT Hostel, attracted over 200 teachers from Accra. The National Vice President and treasurer of GNAT, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages Commission, and representatives from the TUC and the Ghana Registered Nurses' Association, participated. This year's World Teacher Day celebration would be held in Koforidua. Fun games and a presentation to a deprived school in the Eastern Region are some of the activities. Source: GNA