Ghana will host the Koshien Baseball Championship, a flagship event on August 31 and September 1 at the Labone SHS field.

This was disclosed by Mr. Shinya Tomonari, founder of the Japanese Baseball Softball Foundation (J-ABS) and former manager of the Rising Stars, Ghana’s national baseball team at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Youth & Sports to introduce Baseballership Educational Programme.

The comprehensive programme focuses on character development and life skills through baseball. With a curriculum built on 55 core principles.

Ten volunteer coaches from Keio University will partner with ten Ghanaian coaches to implement the Baseball Education Programme in the selected schools and communities.

Following the three-week training, the most promising athletes will advance to regional teams culminating in the inaugural Ghana Koshien Championship in Accra.

To measure the impact of the Baseball programme, a research partnership between Keio University and the University of Ghana is underway. One hundred participants will be studied to assess the programme’s influence on academic performance, social behavior and overall development.

The GBSF is committed to using baseball as a catalyst for positive change and believes that investing in youth development through the Baseballership programme is crucial for the growth of sports in Ghana.

Mr. Ernest Danso, President of Ghana Baseball hinted that other federations will benefit from the concept.

Prof. Takaaki Kato, leader of the delegation to Ghana and Mr. Shinya Tomonari presented baseball equipment to the GBSF. He noted that the Keio University has produced many top players and prayed that Ghana also gets to players in baseball.

Mr. Albert K. Frimpong, President of African Baseball promised to spread the Baseballership to other parts of Africa

Chief Representative of JICA Ghana Office, Ms Suzuki Momoko was present at the ceremony.

The delegation later met the Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Alhaji Abdul Majeed Bawah who called for more technical research so that the NSA will be involved in GBSF activities.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah