Accra, Feb. 6, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Monday called on the US noted for its optimum interest in the promotion of baseball, to collaborate with Ghana to nurture the sport to par with football.
He said through the technical expertise of the US in the form of coaches and logistics, the basic schools would be the fertile grounds for the promotion of the sport.
Vice President Mahama made the call when he hosted a 22-member delegation from the US, comprising past and present baseball stars and managers to a farewell dinner in Accra after their three-day tour of Ghana.
"Baseball sport is a business of international repute, which is limited to a large extent to the Americas. I believe this visit and subsequent ones will whip up some interest in the sport so as to build up a national passion in the future for it," he said.
African Development Foundation (ADF) the brainchild of a US-based Ghanaian, Mr George Ntim, organised the visit.
While in Ghana the delegation presented a kit worth 100,000 dollars to the Ghana Baseball and Softball Association (GHABSA).
The first consignment of kit worth the same amount was presented to GHABSA in February last year. This year's items include baseball bats, jerseys, t-shirts, shoes, gloves and catchers gears.
The USAID Ghana Office also donated 50,000 dollars through the ADF for the development of baseball in Ghana.
Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, lauded the delegation for helping Ghana's efforts to diversify sports.
Ms Pamela Bridgewater US Ambassador said the visit by the baseball team was an appropriate means by which her country could support Ghana's 50th Independence anniversary. Mr Ntim announced plans to organise a fundraising ceremony for the sport in New York in June 2007 and invited the Vice President to be the special guest of honour.
Leading the delegation are US Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield, formerly of the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Sandiego Padres and also Omar Minaya, the current Manager of the New York Mets, one of the biggest teams in the US.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between authorities at the University of Ghana, ADF and Ghana Baseball and Softball Association to promote and develop the game in Ghana. As part of the MOU, the campus of the University would host the first baseball field in the country. 06 Feb. 07
