Youth And Sports Minister Launches National Fitness Day In Accra (PICS)

Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has launched a National Fitness Day at the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra.

According to the Minister, the National Fitness Day seeks to promote good community relations among residents of various communities.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister said "The National Fitness Day seeks to create awareness about fitness and health issues and promote community sports and recreation"

He added that the National Fitness Day will also promote physical and mental health and well-being likewise provide a platform for talent discovery.

Explaining further, Mustapha Ussif added that the concept of National Fitness Day is common around the world.

He mentioned countries, including United States and United Kingdom have established National Fitness Days.

He noted that even though their National Fitness Days are observed once a year, Ghana intend its to be more regular on a monthly basis.

"The initiative is in response to a clarion call by the Vice President for a day to be set aside every month, and dedicated to promote exercise and fitness among Ghanaians. To that effect, the Ministry worked assiduously towards the realisation of this day"

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that about 60 per cent of the world's population fails to complete the recommended amount of physical activity required for healthy lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyles appear to be increasingly widespread in many nations despite being linked to a range of chronic health conditions"

He added that leading a sedentary lifestyle is becoming a significant public health issue.

"Physical inactivity levels are rising in many countries with major health complications particularly the prevalence of non-communicable diseases"

"Physical inactivity has been identified as one of the leading risk factors for global mortality. It is estimated that physical inactivity accounts for approximately 21 to 25 per cent of breast and colon cancers, 27 percent of diabetes and 30 per cent of ischemic heart disease globally"

It is recommended that adults should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.

The Minister underscored the need for individual behaviour change to reduce the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles.

"It is for these reasons that the Ministry of Youth and Sports supports the call by the Vice President for the establishment of a National Fitness Day, to be observed across the country once every month"

"The launch today, ushers us into the maiden National Fitness Day, which shall be observed on the second Saturday in September, which is the 10th of September, 2022 in Accra"

"Subsequently, the National Fitness Day shall be observed on the second Saturday of every month, across the country, with a national version, rotating in regional capitals"

 Other speakers lauded the initiative and pleaded their support to the National Fitness Day.

Below are some pictures:

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith