The maiden edition of the Commonwealth Connections Arts Exhibition and Sports Festival has been held in Accra, with students displaying their art and also partaking in some sporting events.
The programme provides a unique opportunity for the 2022 Commonwealth Games to build sports, arts, and citizenship connections in the education sectors of the Commonwealth countries.
Ghana was selected among the five countries from Sub-Saharan Africa to deliver the Commonwealth Connections programme, which is co-funded by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and the British Council.
Sixty (60) students from six schools in Ghana, including Archbishop Andoh Basic School, Umuraniya Islamic Basic School, Adabraka Presbyterian Basic School, All Saints Anglican Basic School, Dawhenya Methodist Basic School B, and New Horizon Special School, took part in the art exhibition and sports festival.
Mr Chikodi Onyemerela, Acting Country Director of the British Council (Ghana & Cameroon), said the programme was aimed at inspiring young future athletes to always compete in the spirit of friendship.
“The educational and sporting programme celebrates and showcases the artistic and sporting talents of children and young people of the Commonwealth nations.
“I am convinced that schools involved in the programme have benefited from international connections and have been inspired to have a valuable perspective on the Commonwealth,” he said.
Mr Richard Baffour Awuah, Director for Pre-tertiary at the Ministry of Education, lauded the British Council for this initiative, which, according to him, would promote the core competencies of these young students.
“The objectives of the commonwealth connections project align in so many respects to some of the key education reforms the Ministry has initiated.
“These reforms are expected to contribute to the goals of the Education Sector Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) and lead to the improvement of learning outcomes, especially at the pre-tertiary levels,” he said.
Mr Awuah further stressed that the Ministry would continue to partner with key institutions to promote quality education for Ghanaian children.
The Birmingham Education Partnership was a lead delivery partner of this programme, as were the Youth Sports Trust and the Birmingham Art School.
