The Registrar of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Ms. Yaa Amankwaa Opuni, has stressed her outfit's commitment to advancing the role of sports in public health and national development.

She explained that the University aims to achieve this by crafting and introducing well-tailored sports programs in the fields of sports to produce expertise toward building a healthier community.

She said this at a ceremony organized by UHAS to commemorate the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace.

“By integrating sports into our health and academic programs, we strive to cultivate a culture of fitness, teamwork, and excellence that benefits individuals and society at large. Through collaboration with stakeholders in the sports and health sectors, UHAS seeks to advance the role of sports in public health and national development”, she said.

She further indicated that UHAS being a health-focused University, identified the importance of sport in disease prevention and health promotion and, therefore, focuses on making “it a key component of public health policy in Ghana and beyond.”

"Through research, advocacy, and practical initiatives, UHAS aims to position sports as a key
component of public health policy in Ghana and beyond", she said.

She added that the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine was established in 2019 school to offer an undergraduate program for Bachelor of Exercise Medical Sciences.

The school also runs a Professional Practice Certificate Course (PPC) which is designed to upgrade the knowledge and skills of Health Club Managers, fitness instructors, new entrants into the health and fitness management Practice, Sports teachers in schools, sports coaches, and other relevant health and care professions.

The Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Prof Lydia Aziato, stressed that the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine is training human resources that would take care of the health of sportsmen and women and not "physical education masters"

She, however, grieved the lack of adequate faculty and training facilities and appealed for the government’s intervention in providing the needed infrastructure and logistics to ensure a complete training of students.

“All our programs are skill-oriented, so we need a training facility for the students, indoor and outdoor. Because I cannot be a sports scientist, and I can't even run one lap around the field. We are expecting our students to also live the talk. So, we need to have a training field or resources. We need your [government] intervention to help us get some facilities for the students and even for the community in Ho and beyond”, she said.

She described the theme, “Healthier Communities, Stronger Nation: The Role of Sport in Public Health”, as apt, underscoring the critical role of sports in building peace, bonding in society, and disease prevention.

The Dean of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine of UHAS, Prof. Nii Korley Kortey, identified sports as not just a tool for amusement but a “powerful tool for progress and unity.”

He entreated stakeholders to collaborate toward identifying innovative solutions to enhance the role of sport in ensuring development and peace across the globe.

The Volta Regional Director of the National Sports Authority, Mrs. Joyce Detsa, charged the country to identify sport as transformative tool and harness its potential towards “healthier communities, stronger nations, and a more peaceful world.”

The Cheif Executive Officer of Republic Trust Limited Company, Kwesi Tetteh Amanor, advocated the creation of a thriving sports ecosystem that fuels economic growth, attracts investment, and secures financial stability.

He outlined strong governance, implementing policies, financial structures, infrastructure investment, and empowering athletes among other key components to be considered in sports promotion.

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