The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) has commended Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd.(GCB) for its role in facilitating the university education of young Ghanaian Athletes abroad.
The message was conveyed to the Management of GCB when the leadership of the GAA and a young crop of athletes paid a courtesy call on the Managing Director of GCB, Mr. Simon Dornoo.
Led by the President of the GAA, Professor Francis Dodoo, the delegation expressed its appreciation to the Management of the Bank for the financial support provided towards the Educational Fund of the GAA which has yielded positive results.
The Bank early this year provided GH¢10,000 for Ghanaian athletes who had been offered scholarship opportunities to study in selected colleges and universities in the United States of America.
Seven out of the 14 athletes under the scholarship programme have won gold medals in their disciplines since they arrived in the USA.
Professor Dodoo on behalf of the Association and the athletes thanked the Bank for the support saying facilities and funding are difficult to come by hence their gratitude to the Management of the Bank.
The Managing Director said he was happy the Bank was helping young Ghanaians to achieve such laurels internationally. The students who are studying abroad under four-year scholarship programs are home to participate in the All Africa Championships from where they travel to the United Kingdom for the Commonwealth games.
Mr. Dornoo said sports development occupies a strategic position in the corporate social responsibility of the Bank adding the Bank would continue to monitor the performance of the athletes and expressed the hope that they would win more laurels for the country.
Mr. John Ampomah, one of the athletes said the financial support from GCB has been very beneficial because it has exposed them to modern tracks and facilities to train physically and also have access to college education. The athletes are reading courses like Criminal Justice and Child Education among others.
The GAA's Education Trust Fund was set up last year to help under-privileged and talented athletes achieve both academic and sports excellence.