New sports bill will address patenting problems

Accra, Sept 20, GNA 96 Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports has said the new sports bill, when passed, would address patenting and merchandising bottlenecks that had scuttled the flow of capital into sports development in the past.

Speaking to the GNA Sports on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister said after a thorough scrutiny, it was realised that the draft bill was bereft of articles that would guarantee the elimination of 93anti ambush=94 marketing practices from which people benefited to the detriment of the sports associations and legitimate sponsors. He said based on the findings of the ministry, the draft bill was referred to British experts, who had immense experience in the drafting of such legislation to make an input to safeguard patenting and merchandising rights in order to attract more capital into sports development.

Mr Osei Bonsu said the new bill would also address health and safety requirements at all the stadia in the country so that the National Sports Council (NSC) and the organisers of sports events would benefit from activities of those who trade at the stadia, while ensuring that what they sold met health and safety standards. He said the bill would also tackle licensing of sports agents to regularise their operations and put them under a sharp lens to forestall abuse.

The Deputy Minister said the contact with the British Experts would also lead to capacity building, as they would meet with some Ghanaian legal experts who would become conversant with the intricacies of sports legislation.

He said the ministry's contact with the British Experts would also afford Ghana the opportunity to seek advice on all legal services required for CAN 2008.

Mr Amoah said sports must be seen as serious business, capable of attracting investment and generating capital to aid development and not only as a pastime, offering respite and entertainment. He lamented the way Black Stars' jerseys were sold freely in Germany during the World Cup by private individuals without any percentage of their sales going into the coffers of the GFA and expressed optimism that the new bill would protect patent rights and ensure that those who invest in sports reaped the fruits of their investment.

The Minister said work would soon be completed on the draft so that it would be presented to cabinet for study before it is laid before parliament for consideration and passage.