Government supports bid for CAN 2008

THE GOVERNMENT has approved Ghana’s bid for the hosting right of CAN 2008.Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, Minister of Youth and Sports, announced this when he inaugurated a 13-member committee charged with the duties of securing the hosting rights for the country.

The Committee, chaired by Mr Charles Mensa has GFA Chairman, Mr Ben Kuofie, and his predecessor, Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula as members.Mr Kofi Amoah (vice chairman), Mr Fred Pappoe, Mr Nkrumah Gyimah (Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports and Culture), Mr Winfred Mawunega, Mr Kwame Ofosu Bamfo (Sikkens) and Dr Nyaho Tamakloe are also on the committee.

The rest are Mr George Kufuor, Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Mr Rex Danquah and Mr Yakubu Abdulai (a director at the Sports Ministry).The Minister said at least five new stadia of international standard will be constructed in five regional capitals within the next five years for the purposes of hosting the competition.

He mentioned Koforidua, Tamale, Sekondi, Sunyani and Ho as the venues currently being considered to supplement the facilities in Accra and Kumasi for the CAN 2008 event. He said when the facilities are improved in the various regions, talent-hunt will not be confined to only Accra and Kumasi because people all over the country will then have the opportunity to develop their potential.

The minister also revealed that when the bid is won, games villages will be provided at the four centres that will host the Nations Cup.“Accra and Kumasi are automatic, but the other two will be decided later upon the consideration of several factors,” he said.

Mr Osei Kwaku said the games villages will be converted to a different facility after the competition in order to derive maximum benefit from it.Mr Kofi Amoah, Vice Chairman of the committee, assured the minister of the committee’s commitment towards the purpose for which it has been formed and called for support from all Ghanaians, particularly the press to help achieve the goal of hosting CAN 2008 in Ghana