The Upper East Region on Saturday hosted 70 cyclists from 15 countries in an international cycling competition, dubbed “Tour Du Faso 2018”.
The first stage of 105 kilometer race of the competition had earlier started on Friday, October, 26 in Ouagadougou and ended at Manga in the host country, Burkina Faso.
The second stage of 155 kilometers then commenced at Manga on Saturday in Burkina Faso and entered Ghana through Paga Border to Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.
The race which brought together African and European countries is aimed at promoting, fostering and deepening relations among sister countries while attracting hundreds of people to the Upper East Region to promote tourism and other exchange activities.
Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Frank Adongo Fuseini, at a reception to welcome to cyclists in the region stated that aside Information Technology which brings the world together, sports, which he said is a language understood across the world unifies the globe.
The deputy minister, on behalf of the government of Ghana thanked the International Cycling Federation from Burkina Faso and the Local Organizing Committee in Ghana for making the tour possible.
“Ghana and Burkina Faso have demonstrated that we are inseparable, signaling to the world that we are all capable of rising above our geo-political and socio-cultural differences to become one people who share common values”, he stated.
Mr. Adongo assured the guests in the region of adequate security adding: “We are a peace loving region and country for that matter and everything has been put in place to ensure that the cycling competition goes on smoothly and that guests pass the night here in serenity.”
He was optimistic that the 31st edition of Tour Du Faso will leave fond memories of participants of Ghana. He urged the visitors to patronise some of the region’s tourists sites during their stay.
The Minister of Sports of Burkina Faso, Daoda Azoupiou commended Ghana for hosting the international sporting activity successfully. Mr. Azoupiou pledged to ensure that both countries collaborate in hosting similar activities in future.
Ouedraogo Daouda from Burkina Faso came first in the second stage of the competition. He spent 3 hours, 51 minutes and 9 seconds to beat his colleagues. Keller Herman from Germany scored second and De Boss Timmy from Belgium placed third.
In all, 6 Ghanaians took part in the competition. The second stage of the cycling was climaxed with a night’s musical show between Ghana and Burkina Faso to further foster unity in diversity.
The 3rd phase of the cycling event took off on Sunday, 28th October in Bolgatanga to Po in Burkina Faso with the 70 cyclists partaking. The 10 stage cycling competition which is expected to cover a total distance of 1190, 9KM is expected to end on 04th November, 2018.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah
