Ghana needs $57,000 for PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games - CDM

Ghana’s Chef de Mission (CDM) for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, Jerry Shaib Ahmed has stated that Ghana would require about $57,000 to successfully participate in the games.

According to him, government is already overburdened and looking at the time left for the games, funding from government may be difficult; therefore, he called on corporate bodies to come on board.

He said Ghana’s participation in the winter games is a boost for the country; therefore, sponsors who come on board will have their monies worth the investment.

He made this known at a press briefing in Accra and said Ghana's sole representative at the upcoming games in Korea, Akwasi Frimpong, would make the nation proud.

The chef mentioned that the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has already secured an International Olympic Committee (IOC) scholarship worth $1,500 a month for the athlete.

He said the scholarship was meant for his preparation and participation in the games, but that would not be enough.

"This is the first Ghanaian to participate in that particular event and we all need to come on board to support him to make us proud", he stated.

He added that he is the only representative at the games and would be flying high the flag of Ghana, and must be motivated enough to do his best.

He said they are currently looking forward to cocoa from Ghana, Melcom, Samsung, Binatone, Hyundai and other corporate entities to come on board with sponsorship packages.

President of the GOC, Ben Nunoo Mensah added that they expect the athlete to do well at the event as he has been preparing very well and in fine shape to take on the rest of the world.

"This is an athlete who has worked very hard and won eight medals in past national and international events. He is looking forward to make the nation proud and must be supported to excel", he stated.

The athlete, he said, would be going to the games with a coach, a physiotherapist, the Chef de mission, as well as two representatives from the GOC.

Frimpong is a Dutch-Ghanaian sprinter, bobsledder and skeleton athlete, and qualified for the event after meeting a required number of races on different ice tracks in two years.

He also met the requirement after being ranked among the top 60 from 95th position in two years on the international Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) on January 14, 2018.