Ministry launches website for ECOWAS Games

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has launched a website towards the promotion of the second edition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Games slated for 2-8 June, 2012.

The news portal “www.ecowasgames.moys.gov.gh” will provide information related to the organization before, during and after the event.

Michael Akwasi Sarpong, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry at a press briefing in Accra on Friday, said the website will serve the official medium for information related to the second edition of the biennial Games.

He said preparations are far advanced as well towards the hosting of the event, which will pit together the 15 members of the sub-regional body to battle for honours in five sporting disciplines in athletics, boxing, handball, volleyball and wrestling.

Sarpong added that the Ministry has also constituted a Local Organising Committee, (LOC) which includes personnel from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Finance and Economic Planning, Tourism, Education as well as the National Sports Authority.

He explained that the Games will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium except for the athletics where the University of Ghana's stadium and the El-Wak Sports Stadium are being considered.

Francis Chucks Njoaguani, Director of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre said the regional body has signed a Memorandum-of-Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Ghana, which confirms the readiness to stage the event.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations and the facilities for the competition amongst others after an earlier inspection visit.

The Director said the objectives of the six-day friendly Games is to promote regional integration through sports.

Over 600 athletes not above 23-years are expected to converge in Accra to participate in the Games, which have become a regular fixture of the calendar of ECOWAS and might be prelude to preparations by the various countries towards the 2012 London Olympic Games .

The maiden edition held in 2010 was hosted by Nigeria.