I'm a little bit apprehensive - Papa

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of Youth and Sports designate, on Tuesday said he felt a little bit apprehensive manning the ministry after the substantive minister got dismissed and jailed over a football bonus scandal, when he appeared before the Parliamentary Appointment Committee.

Mallam Ali Yusif Isa, former Youth and Sports Minister, will stay the next seven years in jail if he fails to refund 46,000 dollars he stole within one month and pay a fine of 10 million cedis.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who is at present the Deputy Leader of Government

Business told the Committee: "I am a little bit apprehensive but I see life as a challenge. What I would do is to see to it that everything is done in accordance with the laws of Ghana."

On his vision for the ministry, he said much time and resources would be sought to restructure the National Youth Commission and other bodies to make them pro-active in the implementation of youth policies.

"The government considers youth development and empowerment among its priorities and I would make sure that this laudable objective becomes a reality."

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said: "Because Ghanaians are so passionate about sports, especially, football, we have somehow played down the development of the youth. The time has come for us as a nation to focus on the youth".

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the government has a youth committee in place under the direction of Vice President Aliu Mahama "from which I intend to solicit ideas and support".

The nominee, who is a Member of Parliament for Sekondi and a Lay Preacher of the Methodist Church, said he would inject moral and Christian principles in the youth to make them more disciplined and committed to the ideals of the country.

"I believe that Christian values and principles cut across all religions and even our cultural values so all the youth would come on board. I'm not going to evangelise to the youth."

He defined the youth as people within the 15 - 35 years age bracket and "even those far above that age who have the interest of the youth at heart".

On the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium Disaster and general security at the country's stadiums, he said he would rely on the report of the Presidential Commission to guide him.

The member said he would collaborate with the relevant ministries to generate employment, confidence and embark on a campaign, particularly, in health education to slow down the spread of HIV/AIDS among the youth.

On Sports, Papa Owusu-Ankomah said aggressive and credible programmes would be drawn up to attract sponsorship.

"Sports development should be business-like. People need to know how well they can contribute to sports and we must tell them in a well planned manner."

When he was asked: Are you aggressive?

He said: "I am calm, considerate and sensitive but when it becomes necessary, one should be prepared to stand his grounds. I am not aggressive."

He said he preferred hiring psychologists to psyche up players to consulting oracles to prepare them for football matches.

"If I'm asked to lead the Blacks Stars to a juju house, I would tell them to fast and pray for three days."

He said he had President john Agyekum Kufuor's support and expressed the hope that he would be able to attract the needed attention and resources to promote youth programmes and sports.

Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, former Minister of Youth and Sport, had commented and asked him on how he intended to convince members of the Cabinet that his ministry needed a bigger purse.