Former Director of the Sports Directorate at the University of Ghana, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, has urged a shift in societal perception of sports.
He believes that sports offers much more than just competitive achievements.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the University of Ghana Africa-Uninet Summer Workshop, Dr. Bitugu emphasized the potential of sports as a tool for development.
He criticized the excessive focus on winning tournaments and competitions, arguing that sports can be used to address various societal issues.
The four-day workshop, themed “Exploring an integrated approach to disasters and conflict response through medical, sports and social perspectives,” brought together educationists from Austria, Burkina Faso, and the University of Ghana.
Dr. Bitugu highlighted the University of Ghana’s recent hosting of competitions at the 2023 African Games as an example of how sports can contribute to a nation’s development.
He stressed the importance of utilizing sports as an institution and a world within itself to address societal challenges.