Tennis is a Powerful Answer to diabetes - Former Majority Leader
A former leader of the Majority side in Parliament and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Lawyer Abraham Ossei Aidooh, has said that long tennis is a powerful sport that Ghana can leverage to fight its worsening diabetes problem in its public health.
In an interview with journalists on the sideline of an awards and dinner night at the premier tennis court in Tema, Community 12 on Saturday evening, Hon. Ossei Aidooh lamented that diabetes has become a major public health issue.
“The statistics show that at least 2.4 million people in Ghana are living with diabetes,”Hon. Ossei Aidooh said adding that approximately 7.5% of adults also have Type-2 Diabetes.
“Diabetes is mostly caused by the sedentary lifestyle and therefore a life of exercise and activity is the panacea. This being the case, sports is the best bet for our public health delivery system and if sports is the answer then there is no better sport to fight diabetes than long tennis”. Hon Ossei Aidooh, who is also a member of the parliamentary service board and a legal luminary said.
The respected Ossei Aidooh, who was celebrated for his good works, explained that the reason why tennis is a good asset against diabetes is because it is a very exertive sport – if you are a tennis player, twice more active when playing on the court than a footballer or a boxer for instance.
Consequently, the respected politician who is also a member of the dream team and was awarded together with Mr. Ebenezer Paa Kofi Grant, the humorous Master of Ceremony at the function for winning many long tennis matches, reiterated advocacy for the mainstreaming of tennis as a national sport.
In addition to about 2.4million people in Ghana living with diabetes, it is a well-known fact that many people with diabetes have not been diagnosed. “Diabetes is truly a national problem and if we are serious about fighting it, tennis is one of the sports to strategically promote,” Lawyer Ossei Aidooh said.
Tennis is considered one of the most exertive sports in the world. According to research, the energy that a tennis player expends on the court while in action is more than twice the energy that a footballer exerts on the field and about twice the energy that a boxer exerts while in a bout in the ring.
Consequently, if any nation is looking to promote sports for the purpose of keeping its citizens healthy, long tennis is a leading sport in this respect.
Corroborating what Lawyer Aidooh said, Mr. Edward Ababio, alias Opuler, immediate past Chairman of the Tema Premier Tennis Club also pointed out that the cost of constructing tennis courts, comparatively is cheaper.
“unlike football pitches, boxing arenas and basket ball courts for instance, tennis pitches are easy to construct and also very inexpensive to do.
And so, if we are talking about the benefits and importance of tennis, cost is one major positive, I was introduced to the Tema Long Tennis fraternity by Mr. Napoleon Wobil in 2002 and became the chairman of the club in 2017, many people including Hon. Ossei Aidooh, Yaw Baffoe, Mike Offei and Dr. Alphonse Kwao Dorcoo helped in diverse ways, we migrated from place to place and now the premier tennis court in Tema community 12 is our final destination, infact, we have gone through thick and thin and it is my strong hope that the newly elected executives will live up to expectation, God has brought us far and I wish everyone a prosperous new year.” Mr. Edward Ababio, alias Opuler said to thunderous applause from the gathering.
On his part, Mr. Michael Yaw Offei, an international diplomat who has worked with both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank commended efforts by government so far in as far as mainstream tennis is concerned but said that there is much room for more to be done.
Recognizing tennis as one of the 24 sports in the country is just the beginning, now we need specific policies for the sport,” Mr. Michael Yaw Offei, who is also a former president and chief operating officer of the GLOBAL RESOURCES in the United States said.
The respected Mike Offei, who is a patron of the Tema Premier tennis club, after receiving a mega award, advised the Dr. Michael Quarshie-led new executives to measure up to the task.
Nene Joseph Ayiku-Teye, a Sentse (Stool father) of Abanam gate of Kabubiawe Yumu of the ruling paramountcy of Ada, Mr.Ken Mpare, executive Director of KGL foundation, Dr. Adam Naa, a former ECG and NESTLE Ghana Limited Boss, Dr. Alphonse Kwao Dorcoo, a former TOR Boss, Dr. Chris Aidoo, a medical practitioner and the Danchira Akwashongtse, Nii Okine Kwei, who are all patrons of the Tema Premier tennis club were honoured for their immense contribution towards the development of long tennis in the harbour city.
Mr. Yaw Baffoe, a reputable businessman, received a mega award for quality services, Mr. Michael Adade Foli, Mr. Maxwell Gidi and Master Joshua Ayamba were also honoured for their good works. The most dedicated member of the premier tennis club award went to Hon. Abraham Ossei Aidooh.
Those in attendance include, Oti Boakye Yiadom, a retired banker, Alhaji Mohammed Salifu, a businessman, Rhoda Ekumah, a businesswoman, Dorcas Rhule, a businesswoman, Nunya Matanawui, a businesswoman, Martin Boakye, a businessman, Dr. Mensah Afful, a medical practitioner, Miss Afia Boadiwaa, a businesswoman, Miss Priscilla Yeboah, a staff of GPHA, Mr. Ebo Hayford, Director of elections at the premier tennis club, Mr. Perry Nyamekor, a businessman, Mr. Wiafe Kodom, a transporter, Mr. De-kuza Akwetey, a businessman, Alhaji Haruna Sulley, a businessman, Mr. Benjamin Arthur, alias Tennesse, a maritime practitioner and Mr. Joseph Ahemeng, a businessman.
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