MPs rally support for Black Stars

Backpage Nov 3, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
SOME Members of Parliament on Thursday called for adequate preparations for the country to meet the challenges associated with the hosting of the African Cup of Nations in January and February, next year.
The MPs also called for logistics and financial support for the national team, the Black Stars, to enable them to prepare adequately to win the trophy.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for Chiana-Paga, Mr Abuga Pele on the tournament.
In his statement, Mr Pele expressed the hope that the various infrastructure being put in place for the tournament would be completed on schedule to enable the country to host a successful event.
“Mr Speaker, there is the need to properly co-ordinate the event and make it multi-sectorial, The involvement of other ministries, particularly the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, is critical”, he said.
Mr Pele noted that the most serious flaw in the preparation towards the tournament had been the inability of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to create the needed atmosphere to generate interest in the games.
“It is clear that many Ghanaians are still unaware that the Cup of Nations will be taking place in Ghana”, he stated.
The MP added that during the last World Cup in Germany, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports failed to account to Ghanaians the revenue and expenditure profile of Ghana’s participation in the event.
“It is our hope that within the remaining two months, the LOC would put in more efforts to create the necessary euphoria” to draw people’s attention to the forthcoming event.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Atwima-Mponua and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sports, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said that when the committee toured tha various stadia and other facilities, members were assured that the facilities would be ready for the event.
The MP, who is also a member of the LOC, gave the assurance that a lot of preparations were being done to enable the country host and win the competition.
On accommodation, Mr Asiamah said that the accommodation facilities in the various state universities would be made available during the tournament period.
For his part, the MP for Jomoro, Mr Lee Ocran appealed to the LOC and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reconsider the proposed GH ¢10.00 minimum gate fee for the matches.
He explained that although it was understandable that there was the need to recoup the investment made by the government on the tournament, the ordinary Ghanaian would not be able to pay the minimum GH ¢10.00 to patronise the matches.
Replying, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobi, stated that the gate fees announced were only proposals, which could be reduced.
On the publicity about the event, he assured the House that the ministry’s publicity strategy would soon be rolled out to whip up the enthusiasm of the people about the tournament.
The Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, in his contribution said that already a ministerial committee had been set up to ensure a successful hosting of the event.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were the Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the MP for Asunafo South, Mr Eric Opoku.