A scene from the exercise
Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Saturday led soldiers and other security officers, as well as the citizenry to observe the 17th edition of the annual Republic Day Walk.
The walk which started around 6:00am at the El-Wak Stadium and saw participants moving through El-Wak-37 road to Kawukudi, Newtown, and Nima, attracted scores of onlookers.
It sought to bring Ghanaians together through keep-fit activities to chart the course of peace ahead of the general elections to be held later this year.
Addressing the participants, the vice president explained that the two-hours six minutes walk, was to demonstrate the unity that existed among Ghanaians in spite of their diversity.
He said it was also to try to improve upon the health and wellness of every participant.
The walk brings together all keep-fit clubs across the country, the vice president said, adding that “it is the combination of our weekly health walks.”
‘Pray For Peace’
Mr Amissah-Arthur urged all Ghanaians to pray for peace upon the nation before, during and after the 2016 general elections.
Chairman of the El-Wak Keep Fit Club, organisers of the 17th Republic Day Walk, told journalists on the sidelines of the even themed: ‘Ensuring Peaceful Elections Through Keep Fit Activities – My Role, Your Role, Our Role’ that there were about 1,800 participants.
Abdul Karim Hatsu said the participants were drawn from 79 keep-fit clubs, namely Pokuasi Keep Fit Club, Achimota Keep Fit Club, Dzatsui, from Central, Eastern, Volta regions as well as Benin and Togo.
According to him, “Last year, we had the walk in 2hrs-05 minutes. This year, it is 2hrs-06 minutes which means from last year we have recorded an improvement in our health.”
He encouraged journalists to promote peace through their respective media platforms.
“We don’t want anything that will take this country to the direction that we don’t want,” he said.
By Melvin Tarlue