Governing Board of National Sports Council inaugurated

Accra, March 3, GNA - The Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms Akua Sena Dansua has expressed concern about the stalemate of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) at this time that the country has chalked successes in various sporting disciplines.

Ms Dansua said Government has already taken major steps to get the matter settled once and for all and urged all to help resolve the impasse with concrete measures to avoid unpalatable repercussions in the international sporting arena.

The Minister said this when she inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Sports Council (NSC), in Accra on Wednesday, which is under the chairmanship of Mr Kojo Bonsu, a private businessman. Ms Dansua therefore called on members of the Board to use their vast experience to find amicable ways of solving the impasse as well as other issues such as the management and maintenance of the newly constructed and rehabilitated stadia in Tamale, Essipong, Kumasi and Accra.

Others are the re-organisation of the National Sports Associations, the development of appropriate facilities for the development and promotion of lesser known sports as well as the human challenges of the Council. Ms Dansua said as part of Government's commitment to streamlining activities of the Council and to promote overall development of sports, the Ministry has initiated a review of the National Sports Policy, formulation of a strategic plan for the Ministry and development of a Website for the Council. She told the members "I hope you all appreciate the enormity of the tasks ahead and will thus bring your immense knowledge, experience and expertise to bear on our deliberations so that we can collectively develop Ghana sports in conformity with Government's desire of 'a Better Ghana' for all Ghanaians".

Nii Nortey Duah, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports urged the Board members to support the Ministry to solve the impasse at the GOC "so that we take part in various sporting disciplines since sports is a unifying factor and should be embraced by all".

He noted that the collaboration by the ministry with the Council and the associations has ensured that the country has accomplished successes by the U-20 team, the Black Stars qualification for the South Africa 2010 World Cup, the U-20 Women's team and the U-17 male hockey tam for the Olympic Games in Singapore.

Mr Bonsu, Chairman of the Board said he was optimistic that with the technical know-how and experience of the members they can collectively develop sports to an appreciable level in the country. The other members of the Board include Ato Quaye Armah, Mr Isaac Tetteh, James Marshall Belieb, Mohammed Nasir Ibrahim, Madam Habiba Atta, Madam Joyce Norgbe, Brig. David Kattah, representing the Ghana Armed Forces, Supt. David Adjei, representative of the Police Service, Anthony Kobina Yeboah, representative of the Prisons Service and Mr Worlanyo Agra, Chief Executive Officer of National Sports Council.