By Mercy Arthur
Tema, March 24, GNA – The 4th edition of the Kwahu Mountain Marathon is slated to take off at Nkawkaw GOIL Fuel Station to Kwahu Traditional Council (KTC) Mpraeso, with an estimated participation 500 athletes.
The race forms part of the Easter celebrations in Kwahu.
Mr. Edward Boahen, the Project Manager of the Kwahu Mountain Marathon, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Tema that the 2023 Kwahu Mountain Marathon activities would commence at 06:00 hour to 10:00 hour within a distance of 23 kilometers.
The theme for the 2023 Kwahu Mountain Marathon is “Embracing the new normal, incorporating exercise and physical fitness into our daily life,” with the Omahene of the Kwahu Traditional Area serving as the special guest.
The race which is being sponsored by GOIL Company Limited would begin from Obomeng to Mpraeso through to Nkwatia and then finally would end at Mpraeso Kwahu Traditional Council.
He said the organizers have arranged pre-marathon events which include a marathon float; a keep fit festival; pasta night; and health screening.
Mr. Boahen said there would be a pre-marathon float from Nkawkaw through some principal streets of Kwahu which would end at the Forecourt of the Kwahu Traditional Council, Mpraeso, while the public would be educated on COVID-19 protocols, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases on Friday, April 07.
He said all Keep Fit Clubs would converge at the Forecourt of the Kwahu Traditional Council for a special aerobics session to serve as a rehearsal for the float. About 20 Clubs are expected to participate in the festival.
Mr. Boahen said there would be a special athletes’ pasta night before the event, which is a form of social interaction with pasta served alongside music and dance.
“There shall be a health screening after the event as a form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) for the community, after the Marathon on April 08,” he said.
Mr. Boahen noted that the objective of the 2023 Kwahu Mountain Marathon seeks to promote a unique long-distance race on the mountain, use sports as a tool for promoting health, physical fitness, and tourism, and create a unique platform for the youth to exhibit their talents and grab an opportunity to participate in international competitions.
He said it is also a unique platform to harness talent in Ghana and the region, create an avenue to champion awareness of COVID-19, drug abuse, and HIV AIDS, and bridge the “Unity Gap” through sports.
He said the Kwahu Easter Mountain Marathon activities would create a platform to market products and brands to the vibrant population during the Easter Festival and will create an opportunity to associate with an event that has the youth as a major participant.
The statement further explained that organizers would ensure there would be mass participation within expected professional athletes will participate. All keep fit clubs would be mobilized to join the race to boost the numbers and promote the event among the people in the communities.
GNA