CAN 2008 LOC Shuns Member

A CELEBRATED national athlete, who was roped into the Organising Committee of the CAN 2008 by the former Minister for Education, Youth and Sports, Hon Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, has been sidelined, ever since the athlete was appointed, reports Isaac Franklin.

Professor Francis Nii Amu Dodoo, a former national triple jump champion was given a place on the organising committee, on October 25, 2004, but the re-assignment of Hon. Baah-Wiredu to the Finance Ministry shattered the talented national asset?s chances.

In Professor Dodoo?s appointment letter, intercepted by Guide Sports, during the course of last week, Hon. Baah-Wiredu stated: ?It is my pleasure to inform you that, you have been appointed to serve as a member of a fifteen-member CAN 2008 Ghana LOC, charged with the overall responsibility of evolving and supervising the implementation of prudent public relations, marketing and organisational strategies and programmes, fundamental to ensuring not only a successful tourney with the Black Stars, annexing the coveted trophy, but showcasing Ghana globally, as a most preferred destination for sports tourism.? Trusty information has it that, Professor Dodoo has never been invited to LOC meetings, to contribute his quota towards the historic Ghana 2008, despite his rich knowledge in sports.

The celebrated athlete is currently the director of University of Ghana?s Regional Institute for Population Studies, at Legon, in Accra.

Interestingly, at age 20, he was a member of six national teams, Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, Volleyball, and Handball, and got the nod to feature for Ghana, during the Olympic Games, in 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996. In 1995, Professor Dodoo was the Olympic Ambassador for the nation.

Professor Dodoo emerged the ?Sports Personality Of The Year,? in 1987, after he had set an African Games Triple Jump record, in the same year, but the record was broken by Andrew Owusu, after 19 years.

In the interim, Ghana?s preparations for the 2008 African Cup of Nations would come under the microscope later this month, as CAF inspectors storm the country.

The five-day inspection of Ghana's readiness to host the showpiece of African soccer would begin on May 23.

This would be the third inspection, since Ghana won the bid to host the competition.

Ghana has come under immense criticism for the slow pace of construction work at the four venues to be used for the tournament. But CAF president, Issa Hayatou maintains, Ghana would be ready to host the event in two years' time.

"Immediately we grant the hosting rights of the Nations Cup finals to a country, journalists start publishing stories, saying, the host country is behind schedule, and that, the smooth organisation of the tournament is not secured," Hayatou said.

"For CAF, there are no worries, as to the successful organisation of the 2008 Nations Cup finals in Ghana."

The tournament will be held from January 20 to February 10, 2008.