Minister-designate says no to women boxing

Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Tuesday told the Parliamentary Appointments Committee that he would not encourage female boxing as sports in the country.

"I hate to see women fight either outside or inside the ring. I enjoy boxing of men in the ring but not outside the ring. I will not see women who are vulnerable box in the ring".

Mr Osei-Kwaku, 59, a lawyer who was being vetted for appointment as minister said by that he was not being chauvinistic. "I admit women are doing more than what men were capable of doing. Even in this Parliament there are women performing very well. But I do not, as a minister, see how I can promote boxing of women".

Mr Osei-Kwaku who served as a Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs less than four months in the current government said he would give equal attention to youth and sports and that every district would have to establish a youth training centre.

He said the youth needed to be trained and have employable skills that would make them productive instead of selling dog-chains.

Mr Osei-Kwaku who said he was a member of the Board of Directors of Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the time President J.A. Kufuor was the board Chairman would not show bias towards any other football club.

"The moment you are appointed to such a sensitive position you must cut all your links with whichever club you were affiliated to. If you want to succeed you have to be fair and adopt reasonable and equitable approach to all issues".

The Minister-designate said if he became the minister he would, within six months, rehabilitate the Kaladan Sport Stadium at Tamale. He said the country's resources now could not allow it to engage a foreign coach for the national teams.

He said he would give equal attention to all sports and remove the perception that people had about football as if it was the only interesting game. "All sports are interesting. I will ensure that table tennis, athletics, volleyball and lesser known games are equally developed to make them as equally interesting as football".

He said he would be sincere, honest and discipline to raise the dented image of the ministry.

Mr Osei-Kwaku said he could not make any concrete pronouncement on the alleged 25,000 dollars given by a Nigerian governor to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after the Black Stars/ Green Eagles world qualifier. He said he had not got sufficient information on the issue.