By Kwame Bediako
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the establishment of a National Recreation Day in a move to promote physical fitness and cultural heritage as he stated that the recreational day will be observed monthly, serving as a platform to project the importance of recreational activities in the sports sector.
The President shared this groundbreaking news during his first State of the Nation Address to the Ninth Parliament of Ghana on Thursday, February 27. While addressing a range of issues affecting the country, President Mahama emphasized the significance of recreation in fostering community engagement and social bonds.
As part of this initiative, the Sports Ministry has been restructured to become the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. The renaming reflects the government’s commitment to integrating recreational activities into mainstream national discourse. “The Ministry has now been renamed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation,” President Mahama declared. “To acknowledge the significance of recreation, we will launch a National Recreation Day. This will be a monthly initiative centred on community engagement alongside an annual National Recreation Festival”; he added.
These initiatives aim to encourage keep-fit activities and promote active lifestyles among Ghanaians. The National Recreation Day will focus on community involvement, aiming to strengthen social bonds through recreational activities. Additionally, the annual National Recreation Festival will serve as a larger platform for showcasing various recreational activities and sports.
President Mahama outlined that the initiative will not only promote physical fitness but also revive traditional games, fostering a sense of community and cultural heritage. “These initiatives will encourage keep fit activities and promote active lifestyles,” he said. “It will promote traditional games and strengthen community bonds.”
