Odododiodioo MP hails impact of ‘life-saving’ Street Academy

The Street Academy held its 25th annual Health Walk through the principal streets of Accra last Saturday to create awareness about the needs of vulnerable children in society.

Special guests included the Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodioo, Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, and former 2-time IBF bantamweight world champion, Joseph King Kong Agbeko, both beneficiaries of Street Academy.

The institution, located inside the Arts Centre near the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, offers free tuition and mentoring for underprivileged children through basic education and has held the annual health walk for nearly three decades to also sensitise the public to the benefits of healthy living and the need to keep fit.

"I have been a part of Street Academy for over 20 years, as well as my brother Agbeko, who is here. He has gone on to become a world champion, I am here as an MP. There are several others who have become better people thanks to Street Academy, and we are very grateful," Mr Ashie said.

"This school took us off the streets; it is a lifesaving initiative. If not for Street Academy, probably some of us would still have been on the streets, our lives messed up. 

"It shapes character positively, so we want to encourage and inspire others, it doesn't matter how your small your beginning is, your determination can take you up," he stated.

The Founder and Administrator of Street Academy, Ataa Lartey, expressed gratitude to the MP, Agbeko, as well as 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Abraham Mensah (also a Street Academy alumnus), a famous actor, Don Ziggy, and many others who showed up to support the health walk.

He appealed for government, corporate and philanthropic support for the Academy to build an astro turf to enhance the nurturing of talents in more sporting disciplines, unlike just the six they practice currently, which include football, boxing and table tennis, through which they have produced national stars.