Ghana backtracks on withdrawal from Commonwealth Games

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - The Conference of elected National Sports Associations of Ghana has backtracked on its decision to withdraw from the 2010 Commonwealth Games following an intervention from President John Evans Atta Mills.

The group had earlier threatened to withdraw from the October 4-13 Games scheduled for India citing what they said was the continual disrespect from the Benson Tongo Baba-led Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) on issues relating to the nation's participation.

Sam Pee Yalley, Chairman of the Media Committee pieced together by the group told a press briefing on Wednesday that President Mills' intervention influenced the change in heart for the sake of Ghana sports.

The Chairman who is also the Vice Chairman of the Ghana Tennis Association said President Mills was concerned with the current trend of events and has therefore ordered for closure of the matter and to present a team for the 19th edition of the quadrennial Games.

"The President has given some directives for us to participate in the Games. The issues have been reviewed and we have communicated to our members to that effect," he added.

On the issue of accreditation of members, which was the raison d'être for the supposed withdrawal, Worlanyo Agra, Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) said his outfit is in full control of affairs.

Agra said the Council has forwarded the list of athletes and officials to the GOC to facilitate their accreditation for the 10-day event.

With uncertainty surrounding the approval of the accreditation of the Chairmen of the respective Associations, Agra said Government was prepared to foot the bill of those officials to travel to the Games to observe and support their athletes.

"The Organising Committee has given us (Ghana) two extra days to fill the forms for accreditation of the officials and athletes. In the event that some officials are not accredited, we will buy tickets for them to attend the Games.

"But this won't be applicable in the case of athletes, since they cannot compete without accreditation," he added.

The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event which features competitions involving thousands of elite athletes from members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

It is organised every four years and is the third-largest multi-sport event in the world, after the Summer Olympic Games and the Asian Games.