Speech by the CEO of Faafa Fm at the Maiden Edition of the Duamenefa Super Gala and Marathon

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT OF DUAMENEFA FOUNDATION AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF FAFAA 100.3 FM DZODZE, EMMANUEL KETAMAN EVORTEPE- DURING THE GRAND FINAL AND AWARDS CEREMONY OF THE MAIDEN EDITION OF ‘’DUAMENEFA’’ SUPER GALA AND MARATHON HELD AT THE DZOSEC PARK ON SATURDAY THE 5^TH DAY OF AUGUST 2017

WELCOME

Hon. Chief Francis Albert Nyonyo – Member of the Council of States Presidency of Ghana, Hon. Volta Regional Minister – Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Hon. Member of Parliament Ketu North – Dr. James Klutsey Avedzi, Hon. Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs,. Ingr. Kofi Dzamesi, Hon. MMDCEs, Togbiwo, Mamawo, Rev. Ministers Members of the Press, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

We are privileged and highly honored to have in our midst stakeholders who are vested with the governance of our mother Ghana and most especially the steering of affairs of the Volta Region of the Republic of Ghana where this historic event dubbed ‘’DUAMENEFA SUPER GALA AND MARATHON, the first of its kind to be organized by the Duamenefa Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) under the auspices of it’s Private Commercial Radio Station, Fafaa 100.3 Fm Dzodze, in the Volta Region of the Republic of Ghana)to promote peace and unearthed the hidden talents of our youths

BRIEF BACKGROUND

The connotation of the name ‘’DUAMENEFA’’ as the name of the tournament implies in our Ewe language ‘’ LET US CO EXIST IN PEACE’.’ The name was birthed almost 7 years ago as a result of an intervention radio program which airs every Sunday 6:30 – 9:30 pm, Tuesdays from 10:00 am -12pm on Fafaa 100.3 Fm and same time on www.fafaafm.com and also on www.duamenefafoundation.org

As at August 2017, the ‘’Duamenefa Social Intervention Program ’’ had succeeded in resolving over 240 hitherto antagonistic spiritual and diabolical conflicts ranging from

(a) Invocation of the wrath of the ‘’gods’’,

(b) Using Human Being as Servitude to the gods,

(c) So called pastors deceiving people in the name of fake and counterfeit vision, prophesy and revelations (issues of spiritual and diabolical connotations which our traditional courts and the law enforcements do not determine judiciously)

This program which is the brain child of the CEO of Fafaa fm engages all stakeholders i.e. The National Commission for Civic Education, The Ghana Police Force, The Traditional Authorities, The Ghana Bar Association, Traditional Practitioners and various religious bodies to educate the perpetrators in line with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. The program then begat the ‘’DUAMENEFA FOUNDATION’’ made up of over 8,400 registered and certified volunteers as at August 2017. Its members are scattered within the various communities across the Volta Region with a mandate to foster unity and good cooperation among the citizenry, hence the need for ‘’DUAMENEFA’’ SUPER GALA AND MARATHON cannot be overemphasized

The maiden edition of this historic tournament kicks starts on the 27^th day of May 2017 and exposes the hidden talents of 46 football teams and 71 marathon racers from across the divide of the Volta Region and beyond i.e. Ada within the greater Accra, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and Tamale in the Northern Region to the contest of wits in footballing and marathon racing. It has been more of the clash of the titans throughout the 10 weeks tournament until we get to this grand final of the contest today

As at now tears of joy is flowing down the cheeks of the proud winners of this historic event and in few minutes from now the multi dollar TROPHY shall be presented by the honorable regional minister to our proud winners

THE TARGET OBJECTIVES

The ‘’Duamenefa Foundation ’’ through its Fafaa 100.3 Fm, www.fafaafm.com, duamenefafoundation.org in joint collaborations with the relevant stakeholders shall continually (annually) endeavor to: –

(1) Expose the hidden talents of the various football teams to the nation Ghana and the entire world.

(2)Help the young talented footballers nurture their young talents and move it to the next level.

(3) Expose them to coaches and sports officials for the necessary assistance.

(4) Inspire the young footballer and runner to aim high, train hard, stay focus and get to the top

(5) Build various networks among players and runners from all the districts.

OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDATION

We humbly wish to recommend through the Volta Regional Representative of the Council of states in person of Hon. Francis Albert Nyonyo to the Regional Minister Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, the MPs, MMDCEs and all other stakeholders to collectively support the annual event of the ‘’DUAMENEFA’’ SUPER GALA AND MARATHON which shall at all times throughout the year endeavor to implement the aforementioned objectives enumerated above

We humbly wish to appeal through our honorable regional minister to the ruling government to help establish a football academy here in Dzodze as well as create more job opportunities to support the God given talents of our youths

Let me also use this opportunity to announce to other interested athletes who could not participate in this year’s maiden event that registration for the 2018 edition shall commence from 1^st September 2017 – 31^stDecember 2017, so keep your dial logged unto Fafaa 100.3 for further details on the 2018 edition

APPRECIATION / CONCLUSION

We wish to commend the efforts of Regional Minister Hon. Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa and his entourage with other government functionaries here present who took it upon themselves to identify with these noble historic events (clap) Not forgetting our ‘’landlord’’ MP’s Hon Dr. James Klutsey Avedzi and Hon. Richard Quashigah, your consistent motivations and supports in diverse ways is well appreciated. Hon. Anthony Avorgbedor and Hon. Seth Yormewu MMDCE’s of Ketu and Keta respectively, we say may God bless you abundantly for your kind supports

We are also mindful of White Dove Hotels, the CEO Chief Prince Ahiadzro, who bought and presented the TROPHY for the DUAMENEFA CHAMPIONSHIP; we salute you sir

The role of Togbiwo within the following traditional areas is worthy of praise i.e. Keta represented by Togbi James Ocloo, Ketu North represented by Togbi Adzofia, Ketu South represented by Togbi Atiane, Akatsi North and South represented by Togbi Dunyo Hodzi

This event wouldn’t have been a success without the kind support of Hon. Chief Francis Albert Nyonyo (Member of the Council of States representing the Volta Region, in the Presidency of Ghana) and Group Chairman of Fraga Group of Companies

Other group of individuals, corporate organizations, Local Council of Churches,

Intercessors of the land international, Our renowned panelist of Fafaa FM, the intervention team, market women, schools, Banks, members of the external planning committee led by Sorhefia Christian Gamado, Referees Association of Ghana, Lines Men, Commentators, able and hardworking staff of Fafaa fm, Fafaa Institute of Media and Professional Studies, Fafaa Impressions, www.fafaafm.com / www.duamenefafoundation.org, the online staff and last but not the least the Duamenefa Tadiha staff who collectively made it possible to support Fafaa 100.3 fm towards the realization of this noble historic event.

We want to put it on record that through your collective contributions and support, we have been able to realize about Ghc 25,000 out of the estimated Ghc 40,000 earmarked towards the event.

While thanking you wholeheartedly for your immeasurable support towards the success of this maiden edition of the DUAMENEFA SUPER GALA AND MARATHON 2017, I wish to reiterate the need for collective collaborations in this regard to continually unearth the hidden treasures embedded in our youths as displayed during this event until we placed the game of sports in the Volta Region at par with other regions in Ghana

LONG LIVE GHANA

LONG LIVE VOLTA REGION

LONG LIVE FAFAA 100.3 FM (www.fafaafm.com)

LONG LIVE THE DUAMENEFA SUPER GALA AND MARATHON