Ghana launches World Cup fundraising campaign and website

Accra, April 22, GNA -Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms Akua Sena Dansua on Thursday launched a fundraising campaign and website for Ghana's participation at the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The two projects are aimed at soliciting corporate and public support to ensure a successful campaign towards the first ever World Cup to be staged on African soil.

Ms Dansua explained that the fundraising campaign and the website were designed by the World Cup Committee to ensure a successful campaign by the Black Stars for the 11 June to 11 July, 2010 tournament.

She said the fundraising which will be handled by advertising firm, Origin 8 Satchi and Satchi is to raise funds to support the Stars participation at the 19th edition of the World's biggest football event.

The Minister therefore urged corporate institutions and individuals to support the campaign to propel the Stars to a laudable feat on their second participation at the Mundial.

"The time has come to translate patriotism into corporate action."

On the website, Ms Dansua said it is to educate and inform Ghanaians on the participation of the Black Stars at the championship, which pits together the best 32 teams around the globe.

Revealing the website address as www.ghanaworldcup2010.com, Ms Dansua noted that the website will also be a source of information with respect to the World Cup as well as enhance Ghana's tourism and business opportunities to the outside world.

Ms Dansua said that the World Cup Committee is working hand in hand with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) with the objective of cushioning the Black Stars towards an effective and successful campaign.

Oko Nikoi Dzanie, a member of the World Cup Committee appealed to corporate institutions and the general public including Ghanaians in the Diaspora to support the campaign.

He said payments can be made at selected financial institutions including Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Merchant Bank and Ghana Commercial Bank branches whilst Ghanaians abroad can donate through the Missions in their respective countries.

The Stars are drawn in Group D alongside Australia, Germany and Serbia at the World Cup.

The Stars will kick off their Group stage campaign against Serbia at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria then engage Australia six days later at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg before wrapping up against Germany on June 23 at the Soccer City in Johannesburg.