Government to pass Sports Bill into law soon - Vice President

Accra, May 3, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Monday gave the assurance that government would soon pass the Sports Bill into law to give the sporting authorities ample time and mandate to carry out effective fund raising to develop the sport.

"The new law will supplant the ad hoc way of organizing funds and support for the various national teams in international competitions." Vice President Mahama gave the assurance when he launched Ghana's 2010 World Cup participation fund raising campaign at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on Monday. The launch which was preceded by a float by the various supporters groups through some principal streets of Accra was attended by Ministers of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, soccer administrators and the national supporters groups.

The event also raised the curtain for corporate organizations and individuals to lend their support to the efforts of the Planning Committee of the World Cup. Vice President Mahama therefore urged the Ghanaian public to exhibit the same level of enthusiasm displayed in the last Germany 2006 World Cup by again giving their moral, financial and material support to the Black Stars to enable the team get to a higher stage than their past performance and possibly come home with the ultimate Cup. He appealed to the corporate bodies to support the national teams and pledged that government would be transparent in all its dealings with the organizations in terms of accountability and transparency. "Football is the only game that had over the years united all Ghanaians irrespective of their status, ethnic groups and political affiliations and I hope that after uniting us this year we shall forever remain united." Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Youth and Sports called on the Black Stars, the Supporters' groups and Administrators to showcase Ghana's tourism potentials in South Africa during the World Cup by using Made-in-Ghana products.

She said the National Planning Committee of the 2010 World Cup had lined up activities to raise adequate funds for the team, supporters and the media to participate in the tournament and appealed to the stakeholders to adhere to their schedules to achieve the needed target. Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association expressed satisfaction that Ghana was participating in three World Cups this year with the Black Stars at South Africa, Black Maidens at Germany and the Black Princesses at the Trinidad and Tobago events. He announced that three friendly matches have been lined up for the Black Stars on May 27, June 1 and June 5 to adequately prepare the team for the World Cup tournament in South Africa. The Vice President later made a personal donation of GHC 1,000.00 towards the preparation of the Black Stars in the tournament. He took the ceremonial kick-off of a friendly football match between city rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak and Accra Great Olympics. Hearts managed to beat Olympics by a lone goal in a match which Olympics should have won especially in the first but their strikers lacked the experience and finishing power to punish Hearts and carry the day. 3 May 10