The University of Cape Coast (UCC) emerged winners at the 2024 Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games held in Cape Coast.
The University triumphed in the competition with seven trophies from basketball (male and female), hockey (female), netball (female), volleyball (male and female) and tennis (male).
With the win, UCC lived up to its ‘host and win’ mantra as they dethroned the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), the title holders.
In second position was the University of Ghana (UG). They won five trophies, from athletics (male and female), beach volleyball (male), goal ball (female) and hockey (male).
The defending champions, University of Education, Winneba (UEW) emerged third with trophies from beach volleyball (female), goalball (male) handball (male and female), badminton (male and female), and table tennis (female).
The games which was on the theme, ‘Repositioning university sports for national development,’ witnessed 15 out the 16 public universities in the country participating.
On the medal table, UCC emerged top with 18 gold, 18 silver and 17 bronze medals whiles University of Ghana, Legon had 15 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals to place second on the table.
University of Education, Winneba (UEW) placed third with 14 gold, 18 silver and nine bronze medals.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) took the fourth position with 14 gold, 13 silver and nine bronze medals.
Taking the fifth position was the University of Development Studies (UDS) with seven gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals while University of Energy and Natural Resources (UNER) took the sixth position with one gold and five bronze medals.
Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS) clinched the seventh position with a gold and bronze.
The Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) and Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills, Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) shared the eighth position with a bronze each.
Closing the event, the Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, said the availability of resources was important in supporting university sports, as the various universities are the fertile grounds to produce highly disciplined and professional sports talent.
“This support is crucial for developing sports professionals who can represent our national teams effectively” he said.
He indicated that there was a vast reservouir of untapped talent within the universities that the nation can explore to strengthen national teams.
Prof. Boampong further said: “As academic institutions, we recognise the vital role that sports play in national development.”
In his remarks, the President of the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA), Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, called for investments in the existing sports facilities across the universities and the country as a whole.
FROM DAVID O.
YARBOI-TETTEH,
CAPE COAST
