The Nkwanta South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Joseph Awal Antwi, has issued a passionate call to the youth of the municipality to devote their energy to sports and steer clear of drug abuse, as he continues to push for improved football infrastructure and fairer regional competition in the area.
Speaking during a visit to the Volta-Oti Regional U-17 Inter-District Championship, Hon. Antwi reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to identifying and nurturing local talent, describing sports development as key to securing a brighter future for the region’s young people.
A Legacy of Talent
The MCE cited the achievements of homegrown football stars such as Emmanuel Keyeke, Vincent Atinga, and Musah Masawudu all of whom rose from local pitches in Nkwanta South to play in the Ghana Premier League as evidence of what disciplined dedication to the sport can achieve. He encouraged the young athletes competing in the tournament to follow that example, urging them to prioritize their health and long-term career prospects over destructive habits such as smoking and drinking, which he warned could derail their potential.
Frustration Over Regional Football Administration
Beyond his message to the youth, Hon. Antwi voiced sharp criticism of the current structure of regional football governance, accusing the Volta-Oti Regional Football Association of consistent bias against Nkwanta South teams in past tournaments. He called for the immediate separation of the Oti and Volta Football Associations and appealed directly to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to intervene.
The MCE issued a stern warning that if the alleged officiating bias is not addressed to guarantee a level playing field, Nkwanta South would withdraw from all future regional tournaments in order to protect the interests and morale of its athletes.
Infrastructure Gap Beginning to Close
For years, the absence of adequate sporting infrastructure has held back young talent in Nkwanta South. Hon. Antwi acknowledged this long-standing gap between the abundant talent in the Oti Region and the poor condition of available training facilities, noting that despite their commitment to putting the municipality on the map, local athletes have had to make do with substandard pitches.
However, there are signs of progress. The MCE disclosed that he has been working alongside the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South, Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Kini, to lobby the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Kofi Adda, for government support. Their advocacy has paid off, securing a commitment for the construction of a new astroturf pitch at the English Arabic Park ,a development seen as part of a broader government effort to modernise sporting infrastructure at the local level.
Looking Ahead
Both Hon. Antwi and Dr. Kini have pledged to continue pushing for further improvements to sporting facilities in the municipality. They expressed hope that the planned upgrade would give Nkwanta South’s emerging athletes a professional environment in which to sharpen their skills, describing the initiative as a springboard for nurturing talent and raising the overall standard of sports across the municipality.
Story by : Ibrahim Nsor
