By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi, GNA
Accra, May 28, GNA – The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with Kile’s Foundation, a Non-Government Network from the African diaspora, has organised a sports clinic for young footballers in the Adjiringanor enclave, Accra.
The event is in line with one of the pillars of the “Beyond the Return” which is “Give Back to Ghana” where Africans in the diaspora, through their expedition to know their ancestral roots contribute in diverse ways to the socio-economic development of Ghana.
Mr Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, Deputy Head of Corporate Affairs, GTA, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said, “as part of the ‘Beyond the Return,’ we have what we called ‘Give back to Ghana,’ where we engage people in the diaspora to support the need of communities.
“The Authority in recent times is promoting sports and tourism to create synergy where we can draw a lot of the youth to find opportunities in, and it is the opportune time that Kile’s Foundation has teamed up with us,” he added.
Mr Kakra Kusi said sports tourism had become a sector that delivered financial rewards to host locations by supporting employment and adding to the economic output due to commercial activities.
The Kile’s World Foundation, a US-based Non- Governmental Network, was established in March 2013, originally with the goal of offering comprehensive art education to children ranging from ages 10‐17years.
The works of the Foundation are to honour the memory of the late Kile Ishmael Glover, who passed on at age 11 in an accident.
He acted in stage productions, wrote, produced and performed music as a budding visual artist, and to honour him, his mother, Tameka Raymond, decided to carry on the legacy.
Madam Tameka Foster-Raymond, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said, though his late son did not play football, she chose Ghana because they identified Ghana to have young talented footballers having been in the country for the second time.
She said the Foundation had incorporated football into their programmes because “it is a team sport that teaches a lot of discipline and comradery.”
Madam Tameka Foster-Raymond said the event would be replicated in other countries on the continent.
Mr Ryan Glover, Kile’s elder brother, said he was enthused with the energy exhibited by the young athletes.
“I would describe the sessions as great; everybody has intensity, everybody has energy and it is going to be amazing as we are only halfway done,” he said.
Mr Glover, also a college student, and quarterback (playing America Football), said they had brought kits for the athletes and pledged to make next year’s event bigger than this year.
GNA
