one of the basketball courts under construction
Golden Star Resources, a gold mining company in the Western Region, is constructing two multipurpose basketball (B.Ball) courts as part of its contribution towards the promotion of sports in the country.
The courts are part of a bigger recreational facilities being put up by Golden Star for the Prestea community. The facilities would have changing and shower rooms for male and females, lecture halls, spectators bay with fencing and a children’s playground among others.
The construction of the facilities commenced in February this year and is expected to be ready for a ‘Giant of Africa Basketball Clinic’ scheduled from Friday October 12 to Sunday October 14, 2018.
The mining company is partnering international sports development Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), ‘Giants of Africa’ to empower over 50 young talented basketball players selected across the country.
The young basketball players, all under 18 years, would be in Prestea from Friday, October 12 to Sunday October 14, 2018 for the basketball clinic.
Dubbed “Prestea Dreams Big”, the three-day event would include coaching and mentoring sessions to be led by some local and international basketball coaching experts and players among other activities.
Golden Star Prestea/Bogosso Internal Projects and Construction team made up of local employees of the company are undertaking the construction of the facilities, giving meaning to empowerment of the locals within the company’s catchment areas.
Ahead of the basketball clinic, a Director of Golden Star Resources, Anu Dhir, has visited the site of the project to inspect the progress of work on the sports facilities as well as to know how prepared Golden Star was towards the upcoming basketball clinic.
Anu Dhir was impressed with the work done so far and how Golden Star Resources was preparing to impact the lives of over 50 young talented players across the country.
Speaking in an interview, Robert Gyamfi, Head of Community Relations at Golden Star Prestea/Bogoso Limited noted that the construction of the multipurpose courts was to assist the communities to develop talents in the areas of basketball, tennis, volleyball and netball.
“Football remains the most popular sport in Ghana and Golden Star over the years has been supporting one of the football teams in Prestea called Prestea Mine Stars”, he added.
According to Mr. Gyamfi, there was the need to develop talents in other sports especially those referred to as the “lesser known” sports in Ghana, hence the decision to venture into the promotion of basketball, volleyball, tennis and netball within the catchment areas of Golden Star Resources.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi