Mr. Nicholas N.N Acheampong, head teacher of Bechem Islamic Junior High School, has appealed to the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, to take urgent measures to halt the practice by authorities of some basic schools in Brong-Ahafo Region to use weighing scales during inter-schools sports competitions.
He said this had discouraged some children of school-going age who had the skills and are good in sports, especially football, but are overweight and stay away from school thereby increasing the drop out rate.
Mr. Acheampong told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Bechem that in recent years pupils who were above the required weight were made to take some drugs to reduce their weight and this had had a telling effect on some of the pupils.
He appealed to the educational authorities that, irrespective of the height and weight, pupils must be allowed to take part in all sporting activities and then make their own selections after the various competitions.
"The country needs sports men and women for the various disciplines to raise the flag of Ghana high, especially in other parts of the world", Mr. Acheampong said.