The Director, University of Ghana Sports Directorate, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, has led Master Benjamin Azamati a level 300 Marine and Fishery Science student and a delegation of sportsmen, to present a trophy Benjamin won at the just ended 2019 GNPC Ghana’s Fastest Human Competition to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro-Owusu.
Briefing the Vice-Chancellor of the achievements of Benjamin Kwaku Azamati, Dr. Bitugu said, Master Azamati swept all the medals in the 100 meters race and 4x100 heats from inter halls athletics to the West African University Games (WAUG), which was held in Port Harcourt in Nigeria. He then participated in the Mini Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) games which was held in Cape Coast and won gold in the 100m and silver in the 4x100m.
Dr. Bitugu disclosed that in March this year, Benjamin represented the University of Ghana in the maiden edition of the African Universities Olympic Championship games hosted by the Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt and won all his heats qualifying him to the finals where he won Gold in the 100m and silver in 4x100m. According to the Director, Azamati is currently the fastest locally based Ghanaian athlete with a time of 10.32 seconds and he aspires to qualify for the finals of the 4x100 meters in the World Athletics Championship to be held in Doha, Qatar in September 2019 under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federation in order to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
While thanking the Vice-Chancellor for his support and commitment to the Sports Directorate, Dr. Bitugu likewise extended heartfelt appreciation to Management for the immense support towards the Directorate’s endeavours and also members of the University community for the encouragement.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, in his remarks, congratulated Master Azamati for his achievement. Using Prof. Francis Dodoo (Pro. Vice-Chancellor, RID and President of the Ghana Athletics Association) as an example, the Vice-Chancellor charged Benjamin to be studious in order to excel academically as well as he has in sports. Prof. Oduro Owusu reiterated the importance of discipline in sports. Discipline, he noted, was the hallmark of sports as good sportsmen and women are able to effectively combine sports and academics. The Vice-Chancellor pledged to accord outstanding sportsmen and women the needed support to propel them to the highest level of their career since the University stands to benefit immensely from such investment.
Prof. Oduro Owusu took the opportunity to urge the media to publicize such notable achievements by tertiary institutions while cautioning them against sensationalism and negative reportage in view of the fact its repercussions will not only affect the integrity of the university but also the nation as a whole.
Mrs. Faustina Azamati, mother of Master Benjamin Kwaku Azamati, in brief remarks expressed immense appreciation to God and the University Management, staff of the Sports Directorate and especially Mr. Elorm Amenakpor, Azamati’s personal coach for their support for her son. She pledged her unwavering backing to push him on to realizing his dream of becoming a world champion in future.
Benjamin Azamati who also presented the medal he won with Ghana’s team that won gold in the men’s 4×100 meters relay at the just ended 2019 African Games in Morocco to the Vice-Chancellor, was accompanied by Ms. Grace Obuor who won Bronze in the 400m race at the African games in Morocco and Silver in the 100m race at Ghana’s Fastest Human competition.
Benjamin Kwaku Azamati is ranked the 4th best athlete in Ghana. He won the 100m race in Burkina Faso Grand Prix in August 2019 and represented Ghana in the 100m and 4x100 meters in the African Games held in Rabat, Morocco. He won Gold in the 4x100m relay and was part of the semifinalist in 100m race.
Present at the ceremony were the Registrar, Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia; Provost, College of Health Sciences, Rev. Prof. Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi; Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Prof. Daniel Asiedu; Provost, College of Education, Prof. Michael Tagoe; Ag. Director of Finance; Mr. Kwasi Odame; Director, HRODD, Mr. Daniel O. Baidoo; Head of Legal Counsel, Dr. Mrs. Olivia Anku- Tsede; Acting Director, Internal Audit, Dr. Ibrahim Bedi; the University of Ghana’s Sports Ambassador, Mr. Reks Brobbey who is also the organizer of the Ghana’s Fastest Human competition, among other University officials and students from Mensah Sarbah Hall where Mr. Azamati is resident.
