Ghana's sports minister attacks press

The minister of Youth and Sports, Mr E. T. Mensah on Monday lambasted sports writers for their alleged negative reportage, especially after the country's sportsmen and women failure to win any medal at the just ended Olympics games in Sydney. He described the press as novices, who more often than not, have no knowledge about what they write. " The press is to educate and entertain- how do you educate if you the writer is not informed", he asked.

The minister, noted for such attacks on the media especially those from the FM Stations, further embarrassed young sports journalists gathered at the commissioning of the ministry's new 900 million cedis building in Accra, by tagging them as "football writers", who know nothing about what they write.

The minister throwing light on Ghana's contingent to the games, said 30 sportsmen and women made up of 25 athletes, five boxers and 14 officials in accordance with International Olympic Committee rule 42 were sent to Sydney.

He said according to the rule, each participating country was at liberty to send whatever number possible depending on disciplines the country offers to participate and the need to qualify.

Mr Mensah said comparing contingent from other countries, Ghana's could be said to be one of the lowest hence " we cannot comprehend the hullabaloo about the number". He cited U. S. top sprinter Marion Jones as bringing to the games four personal officials and wonders if 14 officials for 30 sportsmen and women were too high.

Mr Mensah said for the first time in the history of the nation, a Ghanaian (Aziz Zakari) was able to make it to the last eight of the 100 metres finals. But his statement was in sharp contrast with that of the Vice-president, Professor John Evans Atta-Mills who admitted that the country's recent record on the international scene has not been too impressive.

Professor Mills who commissioned the building said there is the need to look into the cause for the poor showings, whether they relate planning, training, discipline and finance and promised that practical steps should be taken to regain the nations lost glory.