The National Hockey Association (GHA), under the auspices of the National Planning Committee, yesterday officially launched the �John Evans Atta Mills Annual Hockey Tournament� at the National Hockey Stadium in Accra.
The four-day tournament forms part of activities to commemorate the first anniversary of the demise of President J.E.A. Mills.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Oko Nikoi-Dzani, Chairman of the GHA, said �as the whole nation remembers him for development, we also want to remember him for his immense contribution to the promotion and development of sports in general and hockey in particular�.
He said the late President, a hockey fanatic, quickly responded to the construction of Ghana�s only hockey stadium to enable Ghana to host the 9th Hockey Cup of Nations successfully in 2009, and was also very instrumental in the construction of two turfs at Legon and Kumasi respectively. �Since we got the turf, it has enhanced our regional hockey gala and we have also made a lot of impact continentally,� he said.
According to the chairman of the tournament planning committee, Frank Awuku, Ghana will play host to Kenya and fiercest rival Nigeria in the male and female divisions, while the Ghana seniors�Veterans, Citizens, MultiSticks and NDK Financial Services engage in a half-day gala on Saturday.
Personalities who graced the occasion included Chief Inspector Grace Ankomah, Madam Agatha B. Hagan, both members of the planning committee, and Mr Kwame Essah, a marketing officer at the GHA.
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