Sports

(destruction of school properties) by students in some of the country’s Senior High Schools. For example, it is recently reported in the news that, “ More than 40 students of Krobea Asante Technical and Vocational School at Asokore in the Ashanti Region have been arrested for causing damage to school property.

“The students went on rampage Sunday, January 22, protesting the poor results of their predecessors in their final examination. About four government vehicles and two others owned by the teachers were destroyed. The school’s store was also invaded by the students, resulting in the destruction of food items and other supplies.”

The term school vandalism refers to willful or malicious damage to school grounds and buildings or furnishings and equipment. Specific examples include glass breakage, graffiti, and general property destruction

According to education experts, preventing school vandalism is a complex problem since vandalism results from different causes. We therefore need to curb vandalism in our schools from multifaceted approaches. It has been suggested that the best way to prevent property damage in schools is to find out how and why it is occurring and develop a strategy tailored to the situation.

To combat this problem, school officials, students and concerned parents must employ preventive and direct measures. It is been suggested that private security should be hired to monitor the school after-hours The presence of a guard or security officer can act as a deterrent to vandals who target the school.

We need to create a school wide program that teaches students to value the school environment and respect it. The dire consequences of vandalism including legal prosecution must be taught to students.

Above all, governments must improve the resources for learning at our schools in order to attract students to learning rather than to destruction of school properties as a result of poor and inadequate learning facilities.

Minister launches Ghana Professional Boxing League; calls for strengthening of security at boxing centres

Minister for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif has launched the second season of the Ghana Professional Boxing League.

The launch happened yesterday, Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at the Mudor Conference Room.

The Ghana Professional Boxing League is set to commence on Saturday, March, 11, 2023, at the Bukom Boxing Arena.

The maiden edition of the Ghana Professional Boxing League began last year, with the hope of, not just identifying talent for the sport, but also reviving the sport which is seemingly losing its relevance.

Speaking at the launch of the second season of the Ghana Professional Boxing League, Mr Ussif stated that it was important to continue building on the success chalked by the first season of the competition which generated a lot of interest from a lot of boxing fanatics.

“We are here today to actualise our vision of sustaining what we started last year,” he said.

The minister was, however, concerned about security issues that marred boxing fights in season one, calling on stakeholders to prioritise security at the Bukom Boxing Arena in order to forestall any such occurrences.

“In as much as we all commend the Ghana Boxing Authority, one critical issue raised by many stakeholders in boxing is the poor security network at the Bukom Boxing Arena during the fights.

“I [would] like to urge, especially, the promoters, to reconsider their security measures to help curb the unfortunate incident recorded last season,” Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif said.

Season one of the Ghana Professional Boxing League generated massive attention, and the Minister was clear in his conviction that the revival of the league, which had been on break for some time now, has changed the public perception about boxing, making it “one of the vibrant sports [disciplines] in Ghana currently.”

“As the Minister for Youth and Sports, I can attest to the fact that the revival of the professional boxing league in Ghana, after almost [a] 16 year break, which also introduced juvenile, and amateur boxing fights, undoubtedly shaped the public thought on Ghana boxing as one of the vibrant sports in the country, currently,” Mr Ussif noted.

D.K Poison, Azumah Nelson, and Isaac Dogboe, who is in contention for a second world title on April 1, and others are boxing greats in Ghana, and with the Ghana Professional Boxing League in place now, a lot of boxers are expected be produced to keep up with the legacies of these Ghanaian title-wielding boxers.

Mr Mustapha Ussif was optimistic season two of the Ghana Professional Boxing League would live up to the billing, and bring a lot of excitement to boxing enthusiasts as season one did. The presentation of awards to the best boxer in season one, still excites the minister.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I still feel the excitement of the first night of season one last year, and the official presentation of Renault cars to the best boxer Charles Tetteh of the Panix Boxing Gym,” the minister said.

He acknowledged the role played by trainers of the various boxers that participated in season one, and was hopeful that, with their hard work: “Ghana can produce world champions in no time.”

“It is important to acknowledge the role played by trainers of our boxers, who produce credible and durable boxers, who fought for irresistible excitement, and hope for Ghana to produce world champions in no time,” Mustapha Ussif added.

“The moment we are all waiting for is here, and at this official launch of Ghana Professional Boxing League, on behalf of the good people of Ghana, I [would] like to declare the Ghana Professional Boxing League, season 2, duly launched,” he concluded.