Ghana aiming to stage the biggest cup of nations

Accra, July 13, GNA - Dr Kofi Amoah, head of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2008 African Cup of Nations (CAN) said Ghana would host one of the biggest competitions in the history of the CAN if all the Committees inaugurated on Wednesday, focused on the duties assigned them.

Speaking to the GNA Sports Desk, Dr Amoah who also chaired the Bid Committee that won the right to host the competition in Cairo on July 14 last year said he had tasked the various committees not to entertain any mediocrity in anything they do but go for only the best. He said their only headache presently was the delay caused as a result of the due diligence that was required in awarding rights to firms to build the stadia, "but thankfully we have some time and soon construction work will start."

Dr Amoah said the new procurement bill tasked them to vigorously go through all construction bids sent to them on the construction of the stadiums and other facilities to ensure accusing fingers were not pointed at them after the award of contracts, hence the slight delays in coming out with names of the successful firms. The LOC boss said thankfully, they had been able to go through all the minute details to ensure transparency and very soon, the selected contractors will be given the go ahead for construction work to start.

Dr Amoah said though he would like all the structures to be built to be community based to encompass other sporting disciplines and other facilities like movies theatres and offices, they would for now go ahead with the main structures which would facilitate the hosting of the competition, while other facilities would be added later. He said funding was presently not the issue since the government of Ghana had promised to facilitate the hosting of the competition, it would mobilise resources and not sit down to become the target of ridicule.

Dr Amoah said they found it prudent to inaugurate the committees in time to afford them the opportunity to start working early in order for them to grapple with the enormity of the work they had to do so that no stone would be left unturned in hosting the best ever CAN. He said he would meet the heads of all the committees to discuss modalities involving their sitting allowances for them to start work. Dr Amoah was optimistic that members of the Committees would work hard as most of them were involved at the bidding stage and already knew the enormity of the task ahead. Mr Van Lare Dosoo, Chairman of the Finance and Ticketing Committee, thanked the LOC for the honour done them and pledge to work to their outmost ability to ensure a successful competition.