Regional Multi-purpose training facilities to be constructed

Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday announced that government would soon construct ten Regional multi-purpose training facilities for the unearthing of sports talents at all levels.

He attributed the perennial inadequate preparations of the country’s sportsmen and women before major international competitions and tournaments to lack of training facilities and logistics, which he promised would be provided after the construction of the facilities.

Vice President Mahama announced this when the Ghanaian contingent to the just-ended 10th All African Games at Maputo, Mozambique called on him at the Castle, Osu to present him with the medals won at the Games.

The 276 member contingent, made up of sports administrators, trainers and sportsmen and women were at the Castle to present the medals and teams and to present some of their challenges to the Vice President.

Ghana participated in 16 out of the 24 events at the Games and won 19 medals made up of four gold, six silver and nine bronze.

Vice President Mahama said the era when some games were described as lesser known sporting activities would soon be the thing of the past, as government was working round the clock to put all games at a level pegging.

“We have reached a turning point in the development of sports in this country and very soon there will be nothing like lesser known sports. For us here, gold medal or silver medal is a medal irrespective of the discipline it is coming from.”

He said sports was not won by accident, but through hard work and training as well as dedication to succeed and called on the sports personalities to adhere to the tenets of their training programmes to haul more medals in subsequent tournaments.

Vice President Mahama commended all the participants for their efforts and promised that government would soon settle all their outstanding allowances and come out with a befitting package for all the participants and their trainers.

Mr Clement Kofi Humado, Minister of Youth and Sports said the medal haul in the tournament was the highest Ghana had raked in the history of the All African games, adding “This is also the first time Ghana has won a gold medal in soccer in the history of the tournament and needs commendation.”

He gave the assurance that the Ministry would put in strategies that would enhance the development of sporting activities in order to rediscover and reclaim Ghana’s past glories in sports.