The Ministry of Youth and Sports has launched the first edition of the AfroFit competition with a call on Ghanaians to embrace the initiative and cultivate the habit of keeping fit.
In an address at the ceremony in Accra on Wednesday, the Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Eric Mensah-Bonsu, noted that the Ministry was committed to supporting the initiative and advised the organizers to consider gender diversity in their activities.
According to him, society was undergoing a major transformation and the fitness industry was also making its contribution.
“Sustainability and a healthy lifestyle are more in vogue than ever before. While the fitness industry is increasingly positioning itself as a health provider, other socially relevant topics are not so much addressed in the industry. This includes gender diversity and equity,” he added.
He indicated that in recent times there has been an upsurge of sicknesses resulting in deaths, especially among the youth which could be avoided through physical activity.
“Being physically active does not necessarily mean an intense workout. Going for a walk, lightly jogging, dancing or taking the stairs instead of the elevator are all ways to fitness in a day,” he recommended.
The Vice President of the Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association, Mr George Fausta Baffoe, said the launch was to push the competition forward in terms of sponsorship, adding that it was important to also make corporate Ghana aware that wellness and fitness run in tandem with productivity.
The Mr and Ms AfroFit Fitness Sports Competition 2023 seeks to inspire a new generation of fitness enthusiasts while promoting diversity, inclusion, wellness and gender equality across the continent of Africa.