2nd AIPS Sports Media Awards launched…At 6th AIPS Africa Congress in Accra
The second AIPS Sports Media Awards has been launched at the Accra City Hotel in Accra by Mr. Isaac Kwame Asiamah, the Minister of Youth & Sports at the ongoing 6th AIPS Africa Congress.
The award has previously been won by Ghanaians like Fiifi Anaman and Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the popular investigative journalist.
Madam Evelyn Watta, the AIPS Vice President from Kenya addressing delegates said there is a cash prize of $8,000 for the winner, $3,000 and $2,000 for the first and second runner up positions.
It is opened to sports journalists all over the world who can submit their published best works between September 2018 and October 7, 2019 for consideration.
She said Ghana has some of the best performers in boxing, football and media, adding that, “Africa is always proud of Ghana for its contribution to the development and promotion of sports on the continent.”
Opening the session, Mr. Asiamah hoped the nation will use such opportunity to deepen relations and foster unity and cooperation among participating nations.
He said “sports development and promotion is influenced by widespread belief that sport can contribute to a range of social and economic benefits, like promotion of health, crime reduction, job creation, fostering of social and national integration, deepening of democratic practices, women empowerment, youth engagement, development of leadership qualities, respect for the rule of law as well as international cooperation, understanding and peaceful co-existence”.
He said governments see sports as important national investment in the present and future and a tool to globalize the world into a united peaceful nation.
Mr. Asiamah said the AIPS Africa Congress can help salvage the integrity of sports by promoting a discourse on how to de-emphasize the attitude of ‘win at all cost’ and rather project and promote sport as an effective tool for the development of individuals and nations.
He announced that Ghana will host the first African Sport Governance Conference in Accra in September to address the challenges of governance in African sports from grassroots to elite.
Expected to attend the conference are academicians, sport experts, traditional leaders, governments and private entities to launch the ‘Clean Sport Campaign – Africa Edition.’
Mitchell Obi, the AIPS Africa President was happy with the huge attendance at the opening ceremony and explained that AIPS which was founded in 1924 in a boxing ring is the umbrella that gives professional support to sports journalists.
Mr. Kwabena Yeboah, President of SWAG said the association specially decided to host the Congress to mark the Golden Jubilee and thanked all the past presidents like Joe Lartey, Oduro Kwarteng, Oheneba Charles, Joe Aggrey, Ebo Quansah and Ackah Anthony for their support.