Keio University Students Arrive in Ghana to Kick Off Baseball Training Tour Under JICA Program
A group of enthusiastic Keio University students arrived in Ghana on Wednesday for a short-term volunteering program under the auspices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with the Ghana Baseball and Softball Federation (GBSF).
The team was warmly welcomed at the Kotoka International Airport by the President of GBSF, Mr. Ernest Danso, Mr. Tomonari – President of the Japanese Association of Baseball for Sustainability (J-ABS), a JICA representative, and a member of the local federation.
Speaking to the media at the airport, Mr. Danso said; “Today, once again, we have GIAFS, our major partner in Japan for the Koshien Championship that we made one last year. Then K-University, GIAFS, and JICA once again are here to make sure we have the second edition of the Koshien Championship.”
He announced that a seminar will be held at the University of Ghana, Legon, starting Friday in the conference room as part of the “Baseballership” program.
“After which the Keio University students will be dispatched to various regions to go train with our kids who will be coming for the Koshien championship,” he added.
“So by September early we are done with this, and then they are back to Japan.”
Mr. Tomonari also shared his excitement; “I’m very happy to be back together with my university students here from Keio University. They belong to the Keio University baseball club team and train a lot, including two ladies. So I’m expecting very much for them to teach how to enjoy baseball with baseballership philosophy.”
He emphasized the significance of the program for both Ghana and the continent; “Baseball has been introduced to Ghanaian people from a long time ago, but for many years, many Japanese people supported Ghana Baseball.
This time, the Ghana Baseball and Softball Federation accepted us to have this program. It is a very new program in Africa—not only Ghana, so it will be a very good model case to promote baseball in Ghana and Africa. "
As part of their activities, the team will pay courtesy calls on key institutions on Thursday, including the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the National Sports Authority, the Ghana Olympic Committee, and the Ghana Education Service.
The initiative marks yet another milestone in strengthening Ghana-Japan sports relations and nurturing young talents through international cooperation and cultural exchange.
By; Victoria Kwofie
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