Boxing, A Game about to Erupt in the Volta Region [Feature]

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September 16, 2018

Volta Boxers — Some Boxers from Volta region

By: Tilda Elinam Acorlor|Voltaonlinegh.com|

Boxing is said to be a combat sport, only for the dedicated and success hungry. Not many people are thought to have the appetite for it in the Volta Region.

The notion is that people from the region would rather go into carpentry; sing loudly to the rhythmic sound of the hammer, masonry or go fishing.

Wrong notion of course, because that view is held of Ewes; There are other ethnic groups in the region, who could go into boxing if others there want to handle the saws and the pickaxes only; So a boxer and a good one too, surely must be from some other region. If you are from the region, Volta, then of course must not be domiciled there.

All that notion has changed as the story of boxing in the Volta Region is about to be re-written.

We have world beaters coming from the region and many more are being groomed in the region, even with all the technical problems.

Anama Dotse aka ‘Polopala’ (in red pant) in an undercut with Ugandan Sani Yidana Kublie

Dotse Anama, (17-16, 12 KOs) alias Polopala, is a budding great boxer set to change the notion.
“I, (Polopala), will prove to them that I’m a great boxer from the streets of Asogli”.
Those are the words of a young spirited fighter who loiter the streets of Ho, capital of the Volta region, yearning to be a world champion.

Aflao, apart from sharing Ghana’s Eastern boarder with Togo, is the nest of budding boxers in the region. Indeed the only boxing coach in the region lives there.

So boxing as a game is vibrant there.

Lightweight boxer, Nathaniel Nukpe is a school dropout and a boxer from Aflao. He told me how he struggled to make ends meet.

“I come from the street, the street has made me who I am today”
“I dropped out of school, I had no friends“
“I became a boxer because I am a street boy,
“Many deserted me but today those who left me out are coming back because I’m a successful boxer”

Nathaniel Nukpe (17-4. KOs 12), who describes himself as the king of technical knockouts, no longer feel abandoned and is motivated by the success, the hardship of the streets has blessed him with.

There is this notion that boxers hail from the street and the only way to survive is being tuff among peers on the streets and transforming into a pugilist as a game, boxer.
Perhaps that notion is true.

Unlike Nathaniel Nukpe, Azumah Nelson Jr, son of boxing legend, Azumah Nelson who lacks nothing and very comfortable, away from the streets, with all the tutelage from his father cannot be a world champion one day.

Azumah Nelson said his son has been overly pampered, which has made him unenthusiastic about becoming a good fighter.

“He is very comfortable, he has everything he wants, when he was young, I pampered him, he has a car that takes him to school and wait for him, bring him home, he lacks nothing”

“I would support junior if he wants to fight, if he does not want to fight too I would back him.” The piece from Azumah, Ghana’s boxing legend as quoted in the Daily Graphic Issue of 2nd September 2018.

So how can the region support the very spirited young one wanting to be great boxers?
Enam Dagadu the Volta Regional Boxing Federation’s chair has hopes, in the midst of the many challenges confronting the region.

He said the emergence of amateur boxers in the region would propel the sport to grow, but regretted there were not many boxing promoters and match makers from the region.

“Volta has a bright future in the discipline”
“We only have one promoter, this is not enough”
“It’s time for Volta to turn attention on boxing here in the region”

Recently, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), the mother body for boxing in Ghana, donated some boxing equipment to the regional federation to aid the region’s growth in the sport.

‘King Kong’ Agbeko retained his WBO Africa Bantamweight Title (Image:Skef fotos)

Two time former world champion, Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko (39-5, 25KOs) who held the IBF title twice between 2007 and 2011 hails from Aflao in the Volta region.
Agbeko has not been very active for close to 8 years.

In a bid to revive his boxing career, Volta region’s sole promoter, Mitch Woolams of the Aborigine Promotions staged an international bout in Aflao, in March 2018 where Joseph Agbeko secured the WBO Africa Bantamweight title against the undefeated Ugandan champion, Frank Kiwalabye (17-2, 12 KOs).

The “King Kong” went ahead to defend his title in Ho against Ghanaian boxer Ekow Wilson (13-9, 2TKO).
With this the former commonwealth bantamweight title holder is set for another crack at the world title again.

The beauty of all these is that folks who hail from the region can take pride in these boxing greats.

Meanwhile, great boxers have emerged from the Volta region, the likes of Ray Bansah and Prince Amartey who represented the region at their peak internationally.

Prince Amartey was a famous boxer and former Army officer, who won a bronze in the middle weight Division, at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Boxing enthusiasts in the region, are nostalgic about the late 90’s in Ghana, when many stayed awake late into the early hours of the mornings to watch the Legendry Azumah Nelson, the Ike Quateys’ and Joshua Clottey fights.

Edwin Tukpeyi, an entrepreneur and a boxing enthusiast is one of them.
“I recall myself and my dad Edwin Tukpeyi Snr, kept wake to watch fight on the screen in Ho.
“But today all those exciting times are over now”
“It used to be great fun and an entertaining time”

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) offices and hostel in Ho was a popular boxing hub.
The YMCA centre, located at Ho Civic centre, was a lively arena for boxers in the region.

As Volta prepares to re-launch boxing, the mantra of “NEHO,” used by another son from the soil, the Ghanaian-British professional boxer, Isaac Dogboe, the Royal Storm, should be the battle cry.

Dogboe the current World Boxing Organization, Super bantamweight champion.

“Neho” is an inspirational word for the boxer which literally means, “let it erupt”.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta NHIA Takes Custody of New Printers to Boost Operations

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Volta Online

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September 14, 2018

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NHIA printers (6) — The set of new printers

By: KALD|Voltaonlinegh.com|

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Volta Region has taken custody of new sets of printers to facilitate the operations of the health insurance scheme in the region.

The equipment, 33 in number would be deployed to all the 16 district scheme offices in the region to enhance the production of the biometric NHIS cards to new subscribers.

Mr. Joseph Homenya, the Volta Regional Director of NHIA who took delivery of the equipment, told voltaonlinegh.com in an interview that the delivery of the new printers was timely as the current set of printers being use in the various district offices were over-aged, thus, suffered frequent breakdowns, which ultimately hindered efficient delivery of service to clients.

Mr. Homenya (R) inspecting the Printers with Mr. Avinu, Regional NHIA Operations Manager

“One major headache of our operations was the frequent breakdown of printers because most of them have been in the system for over 10 years. It has been challenging in the past months for our district schemes to issue new NHIS cards to subscribers but thankfully, through the instrumentality of our management in Accra and the government, these new printers together with other consumables have been procured to boost our operations.”

According to him, each of the 16 scheme offices in the region will receive two printers with the remainder placed on standby at the regional office.

Mr. Homenya added that, the regional Management Information Systems (MIS) officer was currently under training in Accra on the use of the new robust equipment and similar training would be held for all district MIS officers in the region in the coming weeks.

He also used the opportunity to encourage the citizenry to remain active on the National Health Insurance Scheme in order to enjoy continuous access to quality and affordable healthcare.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Second batch of UHAS Medical students don ‘White Coats’

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Volta Online

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September 13, 2018

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UHAS white coat (3) — The 55 UHAS medical students ushered into clinical training

By: KALD|Voltaonlinegh.com|

Some 55 medical students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), School of Medicine have formally begun their clinical training as part of their 6-years journey to becoming medical doctors.

The students, who have completed their three years of pre-clinical studies in basic medical sciences, were ushered into the practical stage of their training at a White Coat ceremony held at the UHAS main campus at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho in the Volta region.

The ceremony which signified the transition of students from the theoretical classroom studies to a practical training in health facilities saw key faculty members dressed up the medical students in white coats with stethoscopes around their necks in readiness for their new task.

Professor Henry Tagbor, Dean of UHAS School of Medicine, said the white coat ceremony, which is the second in the history of the school, was a crucial step in the professional development of medical students.

“You are the our second batch of students to successfully complete your pre-clinical training in the basic sciences and the second to start your clinical training,” he stated and added that, “most of your training will now be conducted on the wards of the hospital. This is you will learn and practice for the rest of your careers.”

Prof. Tagbor hence advised the students to make the best of the practical training and put the knowledge acquired during the pre-clinical training at the service of patients.

The Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Timothy Letsa who was the guest speaker, urged the medical students to uphold professionalism and cooperation in the service of the humanity.

He cautioned them against medical negligence and be guided by the professional code of ethics and operate within the regulatory and policy frameworks of the facilities in which they will be training.

“Quality of care is critical in service delivery and must be held in high esteem. In your practice you must aim at improving health outcomes, minimizing complications and disabilities and above all saving lives,” Dr. Letsa added.

The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Eli Atikpui administered the professional oath to the students and urged them to abide by the tenets of the medical profession and be at the service of patients regardless of their social standings.

He urged parents to continuously support their wards as they enter a challenging phase of their training.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor John Gyapong on his part reiterated the commitment of UHAS management to provide the conducive environment for the training of the medical professional in spite of challenges.

The students in a pose with dignitaries after the ceremony

He use the opportunity to remind government to give effect to the conversion of the Volta Regional hospital into a Teaching hospital , by constituting its governing board as soon as possible to facilitate the clinical training of the medical students.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Ketabusco Holds Transformational Agenda Speech and Prize Giving Day on Oct 6

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Volta Online

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September 13, 2018

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The President of Keta Business College (KETABUSCO) Old Students Association (KEBSOSA), Dr Seth Kwami Anani has disclosed that the Association will hold its maiden annual Speech and Prize Giving Day under the transformational agenda for the school on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the school’s premises in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region.

The event which will see prizes awarded to deserving students as well as to best performing teachers to encourage others, will be under the theme: “Indiscipline, the Bane of Academic Excellence”.

The President said the objective for organising the event is to motivate students to perform academically to help realise the bigger agenda of the Association to transform the school in 5 years to come.

“Improving academic performance, through Teacher and Student Motivation, of our school is one of the strategic outcomes under the pillars of the Transformational Agenda which has the objective of moving the school from its current Grade B to Grade A in 5 years. Other strategic outcomes include but not limited to infrastructure transformation, discipline and branding of the school.

The transformational agenda for the school is anchored on four main pillars which include, “Education and Training, Marketing and Communications, Organization and Membership and Project & Funding”.

The October 6 event which has 1988, 1998 and 2008 year batches as headline sponsors for students’ awards, is expected to be held annually and set the tone for students to challenge one another academically and consequently give the school an enviable position among best performing second cycle institutions in the country.

Dr Seth Anani is therefore calling on all well-meaning Coronats (KETABUSCO old students) to support with their donations in giving a practical meaning to the transformational agenda in pursuing academic excellence and discipline as a strategic output at this year’s speech and prize giving day.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Gekrong Community Appeals for Health Post

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Volta Online

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September 13, 2018

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By: Obrempongba K. Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Residents of Gekrong, a farming community in the Nkwanta South District of the Volta Region are appealing for a health post to be situated in their community to improve healthcare delivery in the area.

According to the residents, they have to travel over 20 kilometers to the municipal capital, Nkwanta to access healthcare.

The Assembly member for the area, Issaka Kwame Issac, expressed worry over lack of a health post to see to the health needs of his people.

He spoke of the difficulties that women in labour go through to access a health centre as very disturbing and called on government to help solve the problem.

He made this known while speaking during the celebration of the annual festival of the people of Gekrong, Jodzi Festival 2018.

He also seized the opportunity to appeal to the government to consider the rehabilitation of Kue-Nkwanta feeder road to facilitate transportation of farm produce in the area to the capital

The Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Elder John Thasun in response to the appeal, assured that the assembly will do its best to assist the community in addressing the challenges.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta Begins Table Tennis League with Mixed Results

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Volta Online

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September 12, 2018

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By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Vilcabamba Table Tennis Club (VTTC) experienced mixed results at the Sports Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium as the 2018 Ghana Table Tennis League began on Saturday, September 8.

The league which saw many clubs (security and civilian) across the country registering to partake, had Vilcabamba male team win all two matches played while the female lost a single match.

The best of 5 of the single and double competitions had VTTC beating Madina 3-1, with Bright (3-0) and Senyo Ahiaba (3-1) winning their first singles, allowing Sellasie Setorwofia and Bright Dzotsiafe to lose the doubles, 2-3. Sellasie Setorwofia sealed it off with a 3-0 win to hand the team their first victory.

Volta’s only rep at the national league, who were knocked out at the 1/8 stage of the knockout competition last month enjoyed another 3-1 victory against Accra-based Divine Travel and Tour Club. Once again, the first two singles were won by Sellasie 3-0 and Senyo 3-0. However, Sellasie and Bright lost the doubles 1-3 but Bright came back to get the much needed points for VTTC with a 3-0 results.

The female side of the VTTC couldn’t replicate the exploits of their male colleagues as they lost 3-0 to Army. Millicent Selorm could only win a game against her opponent as she lost 3-1 in the singles. Matilda Fodu lost 3-0 while Millicent and Eyram Attipoe lost 3-1 in the doubles.

Coach of VTTC, David Senyo Ahiaba who expected better results from the female team said the team needed motivation.

“We beat Madina in the knockout, so we knew what to expect. Beating Divine Travel and tour was a great achievement for us, considering the calibre of players they have. We gave off our best and it paid off. Hopefully, the subsequent matches will also bring us joy but for both categories. We are still appealing to sports enthusiasts to come to our aid especially those in the Volta Region because the team needs the necessary support to compete well in the league.”

Other week one results in the men’s category saw Police beat Tiger Sharks 3-1, Fire defeat Eastern Loopers 3-1 and GRA go 3-0 pass Faith. Army lost a cagey 2-3 match to Prisons. Immigration also beat Otumfuo Stars.

For the women, Immigration triumphed 3-0 against Otumfuo Stars while Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) beat Eastern Loopers 3-1. Police saw off Madina 3-0 whereas Western lost 0-3 to Prisons.

The league, preceded by a knockout which was won by Immigration (winning both categories on August 25) will be played every Saturday at the same venue.

Volta who has the target of making the first three at the end of the league, will next battle Asoba Foundation for the male category, while the female side faces Otumfuo Stars on Saturday, September 15.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MoFA Launches ‘Women in Driving Seat’

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Volta Online

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September 12, 2018

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By: Christopher Pappoe | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Mechanisation Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) on Friday, September 7 launched Women in Driving Seat programme at the Adidome Farm Institute in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.

According to the Ministry, the programme seeks to develop women’s skills in managing agricultural machinery and equipment for enhanced agricultural productivity in Ghana. The objectives they said are to increase women’s employability and earning potentials particularly in the field of mechanised agriculture.

The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Mr George Oduro who was present to launch the programme on behalf of the government, lauded the Ministry for coming up with such a laudable idea that involves women.

He promised the participants a secured job after the programme and added that it is government’s plan to get more women involved in agriculture especially in mechanisation. He added that government has planned to build mechanisation centres across the country and that he will ensure women who have undergone the Women in Driving Seat programme manage these centres.

Mr Anthony Morrison who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana commended the Ministry for making efforts to balance gender in all they do and asked the women to be strong and never quit since many of them might find things difficult along the line.

He advised them against the notion that some jobs are for men only and some also for women only and asked that more women take advantage of the Chamber’s upcoming West Africa Drones and Censors Conference which will come off from 16th-18th October this year in order to network with value chain actors from other countries.

The Director in charge of Women in Agriculture at MoFA, Madam Paulina Ardey in explaining the concept of Women in Driving Seat, said Ghanaian women can be found in different aspects of the value chain except for land preparation, thus, the Ministry has decided to institute the programme to introduce women to tractor driving and maintenance.

The programme is set to last for one month after which trainees are expected to acquire the necessary knowledge and practical skills to operate, maintain tractors and its related equipment.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Regional Minister Tours Schools as Double Track Begins

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Volta Online

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September 12, 2018

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Double track (2) — Dr. Letsa and his entourage being briefed at the OLA SHS

By: Ewoenam Kpodo|Voltaonlinegh.com|

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has embarked on a day’s tour to some five senior high schools (SHS) in the region to monitor admission of fresh students for the commencement of the free SHS double track system.

The Minister’s tour on Tuesday, September 11 of the schools was to have first-hand information from the school heads and staff of the institutions on the implementation of the free SHS and the double track system, the first of its kind to be implemented in the country.

The schools visited included Tanyigbe SHS, OLA SHS, Sokode SHS, Mawuli SHS and Mawuko Girls SHS, all in the Ho Municipality.

Dr Letsa in his message at the schools visited, called on all to have faith in the government for a successful implementation of the free SHS policy and the double track system. He said the new system being introduced for the 2018/2019 academic year is nothing strange as it is being run in other parts of the world.

He touted the prospects of the new system and appealed to the staff who he claimed would one day become “consultants on the double track system” to lead the crusade and disabuse the minds of people against the system.

“A lot of people are skeptical about the double track but you’re here experiencing it and you’ll experience it more so that you tell others that it is no harmful policy. It is just to make sure that no child is left in the house.”

Dr Letsa said the system has been adopted to forestall infrastructure challenges encountered during the introduction of the free SHS policy last year and assured the staff, students and parents that government will still support infrastructure development in the schools.

Regional Director of Education, Madam Enyonam Afi Amafugah who was also on the tour, charged the staff to be committed in seeing the system succeed.

She advised the teachers to be hardworking and show love to their students so that the students can in the future, remember them for the good reasons and be proud of them.

The school heads gave accounts of the ongoing admission of new students with some of them citing network problems for the delay in the registration process as evident in Mawuli School (which received 972 new postings to the school, the highest number in the region) where there were long queues of students waiting for their turn to register.

There were also the issues of students from different districts, municipalities and regions posted to the schools as day students and in some cases, students for both Green and Gold tracks were reporting at the same which the various heads were asked to deal with to ensure the students were not affected in any way.

The school heads assured the Regional Minister and his entourage of their readiness to support the implementation of the new system in line with government’s objective to give every school child access to free senior high school in the country.

The double track system which runs in some categories of public senior high schools in the country, creates a calendar of two semesters in a year for the SHS 1 class, containing 81 days per each semester and 41 days of vacation for a sandwich class. Under the new system which has the Green track starting the session, teaching hours are increased from six hours per day to eight hours per day.

Also on Tuesday’s tour were the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Free SHS Regional Coordinator, Ho Municipal Director of Education and Staff of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Tennis Club Elects New Executives at Asogli ‘Te Za’ tourney

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Volta Online

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September 10, 2018

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HTC (2) — The new executives of Ho Tennis club

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey|voltaonlinegh.com|

The Ho Tennis Club (HTC) has elected into office, new executives during the Asogli ‘Te Za’ (Yam festival) Tennis Tournament at the Ho Tennis Court over the weekend.

The 6-member Executive who went unopposed had the support of members of the Club to steer its affairs for the next 3 years at the election held on Sunday, September 9, 2018. Apart from the General Secretary, Macliberty Misrowoda, who had gone for his second term, all others were new.

Dr Elorm Bansah and Dr Michael Quarshie are Chairman and Vice respectively, while Harrison Kofi Belley occupies the Treasurer position. Elikem Darkeh and Peter Akpe complete the six, as Financial Secretary and Organizer respectively.

Secretary, Togbe Macliberty Misrowoda said the club operates with unity; the reason for the unopposed officials after nomination was closed.

“Well, I think it is about all of us. This is all about unity as it is not a political ground. That is why you saw that there was no election; we only affirm the people because we look at you and see whether you have the capacity to do what you have been assigned to do. And we all have that capacity. The outgoing, some think they are tired and need to rest, I didn’t do anything extraordinary, and members think I should just continue with the work we are doing.”

The much anticipated tournament which saw 6 clubs converge at Ho from different locations was disrupted by the inconsistent downpour on Saturday. However, some non-scoring games were played at intervals amidst networking and fun.

All 5 expected clubs; TOR, AMTECH, Maritime, Tarkwa Goldfields together with debutants 4BN from Kumasi came in their numbers but had no regrets.

According to the Secretary of HTC, they still achieved their aims despite the rains.

“You know how it has always been, the Asogli Te Za tournament has always been about fun; having fun and fraternizing so the game is just one aspect of it. And I think that largely even though the game was disrupted, members are still playing today, last night, all clubs that came played good games. Yes, the rain didn’t help us that much, but I think our aims have been achieved, we had fun.”

The Stanbic Bank Asogli Te Za Tennis Tournament promises to come back better and bigger next year as AMTECH from Accra remains the defending champions.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Ho Zongo Wins 2018 Asogli Te Za Community Football Gala

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Volta Online

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September 10, 2018

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Ho Zongo team (2) — Team Ho Zongo, emerged Winners of 2018 Asogli Te za Community gala in Ho

By: Eric Eli Adzie|Voltaonlinegh.com|

Ho Zongo emerged winners of the 2018 edition of the Asogli Te Za community football gala held at the Ho Sports Stadium.

The 3-day gala which ended on Sunday, September 9 saw 8 teams challenging for community supremacy and cup glory as part of the 2018 Te Za (Yam Festival) celebration of the people of Asogli state.

Ho Zongo was impressive in all their previous games before crowning it with a stylish 3-1 victory over Ho Dome, their bitterest rivals.

Sylvester Smith Adjetey scored directly from a 35-yard free kick in the 2nd minute of the game after goalkeeper Dzado Kissinger was way off lines to put Zongo in the lead. The atmosphere got charged up and electrifying when winger Toufiqka Abubaka doubled their advantage in the 16th minute after being laid a through pass.

Ho Dome then pulled one back on the 22nd minute after substitute Nasiru Mohammed who made a cameo for Constant Danso scored after two minutes of his introduction.

The second half of the game saw Dome putting much pressure on Zongo to get the equalizer but couldn’t utilise the numerous chances that fell their way.

Ibrahim Abraham capitalised on another mistake by the goalkeeper of Dome, Dzado Kissinger in the 2 additional minutes to consolidate their victory.

As part of their crowning moment, the champions went home with a Set of Jersey, One Football and an undisclosed amount of cash.

By: www.voltaonlinegh.com