Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, a former student of the Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) and currently the Director of Sports of the Sports Directorate, University of Ghana Legon, has, in fulfilment of his quest of giving back to his alma mater commissioned a multipurpose sports court named after him (Dr. Bitugu Multipurpose Sports Court) at Keta in the Volta Region.

A 1983 graduate of KETASCO, Dr. Bitugu is the current Chairman of The International Scientific Network for Sport for Development and Peace. He has served and continues to serve in various international roles as an academic (University of Innsbruck, Applied University of Kufstein, University of Krems an der Donau, all in Austria).

He also worked and continues to work as an expert and consultant for the UN, Africa Union, the Commonwealth, UEFA, FIFA, European Union, the Austrian Government, the Government of Ghana and selected African and European NGOs and institutions.

In an emotionally stimulating remark that lasted about 20 minutes, Dr. Bitugu told his mostly younger audience about his early beginnings at Keta.

“I was once here at Keta.  I was in House 1, Quao House. Sports is supposed to bring people together,” he said to wild applause from the student body. “Sports is supposed to create a holistic and well fashioned person for tolerance, understanding, time management, focus and perseverance,…qualities hardly taught in the classroom” he said.

He explained that it is important to look back and find ways of giving back to the society that helped nurture you especially in this moment of limited resources required for infrastructure and other facilities and services in our communities.

“Ketasco has made me who I am today. I started by contributing in various forms to the school including books, internet, sports kits etc. I think we should give back to where we came from. I want to say thank you to my juniors and seniors, teachers and everyone.”

Worth an estimated GH¢167,000.00, the facility can be used for most of the indoor sports events such as basketball, volleyball, netball, badminton, handball, tennis among others.

“I am here to tell you that the court is ready to be used. I am very happy and this journey was a very long journey. This was a struggle. I see this (facility) as another favour from our God.” The court is meant for Ketasco, the schools around and the whole Keta community. Please facilitate their use through access and clear procedural arrangements.

The multipurpose court is first of its kind in Ghana for a second cycle institution in terms of size, purpose and funding worth an estimated GH 167,000.

The Dr. Bitugu Multipurpose Sports Court was constructed with funds from the Austrian Ministry of Sports, supported by the 1976 KETASCO Year Group, businessman and philanthropist Dr. Dan Mckorley (MacDan), Brigadier-General Dr. Chris Agbeka, Dr. Saviour Badohu and other individuals from the 76 and 83 Old Student Unions, among others.

Welcoming dignitaries, chiefs, students and staff of the school, the headmaster of Keta Secondary School Mr. Charles Agbakey expressed his gratitude to all who had contributed to the success of the project.

“I want to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Bella and all other contributors who made sure that this project did not stall,” he said.

The project coordinator Rev. Herbert Nuworkpor, could not hide his elation at the completion of the project having spent much time and energy on it. He declared, at long last the battle has ended!!!!

“At long last the battle is over and Ketasco has overcome an infrastructural deficit. The project was made much bigger than originally projected which meant more funds were required.

At the official commissioning ceremony, it was revealed to the admiration of all that the court had been named after Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu.

Dr. Bitugu played a pioneering role in the construction of the court, directly and indirectly sourcing for the necessary funding for the project.

It was announced that the Ministry of Sports Austria had contributed about 80 per cent of the total cost of the project while some groups and individuals had also made some contributions whose names are acknowledged on the official plaque in front of the court.

Dr. Bitugu is currently the Director of Sports at the Sports Directorate University of Ghana Legon.