Author: Victoria Kwofie
The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Richard Akpokavie, has emphasized the importance of sports in shaping the lives of young athletes, especially students.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Senior High Schools hockey competition ongoing at the Theodosia Okoh hockey stadium, Akpokavie urged students to take their sports seriously, saying it can take them far in life.
Akpokavie, a lawyer himself, and a former National hockey captain noted that sports should not be seen as a distraction from academics, but rather as a complement to it.
“The only important thing is that what you are doing is sports, it doesn’t mean that you must stop playing, that’s important,” he said. He explained that sports teaches valuable life skills such as teamwork, determination, hard work, and competitiveness.
The GOC President shared his personal experience, saying that sports had taken him to various countries, opened his eyes to different cultures, and helped him build a network of friends globally.
“Because of hockey, we visited several countries in the world. Some of us sat in aeroplanes because of hockey, we have never dreamt of doing that,” he said.
Akpokavie encouraged the students to continue pursuing their passion for sports, saying it can lead to opportunities to represent their school and country. “Apart from that, it is something to be proud about, if you have, you finally get a chance to represent not only your school but also your country,” he said.
Mr. Akpokavie who played pivotal roles during his era as a player and leader of the Ghana Hockey Association, urged the students to take their sports seriously, saying it is not just about having fun, but also about learning valuable life skills. “Take it seriously, do your best and you will see the rewards in the future,” he said.