Die a bit to raise high the flag of Ghana

Accra, Dec. 6, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday exhorted Ghanaian athletes to go the extra mile and die a bit to raise high the flag of the country by winning more medals, especially gold, at international competitions.

Ghana is the toast of the world as far as soccer goes and the challenge is that the athletics team would strive to achieve the same level of acknowledgement, he said.

President Kufuor was speaking when he granted audience to the country's foreign-based athletes including Ignatius Gaisah; Vida Anim, Eric Nkansah and Harry Foh at the Castle, Osu.
He said given the talents that they were displaying in recent times, the Government would give them every needed encouragement and support to perform on the world stage.
President Kufuor said he had no doubt that with a bit of a push, Ghana's athletics would reclaim the recognition and stature it used to enjoy in the 1950s and 1960s.
He repeated the Government's decision to honour the country's sportsmen and women, who showed exceptional distinction in their performance.
He said the building of new Sports stadiums in Tamale and Takoradi, the rehabilitation of those in Accra and Kumasi and the new tracks at the El-Wak Stadium were all part of the scheme to assist to discover sports talents in the country.
As nourishment was also part of the strength of an athlete, the school feeding programme, he noted, would add to efforts at producing world class sportsmen and women.
Responding to requests made on the Government by the athletes for long-term camping and joint training for the relay teams, as they got themselves ready for the 2007 Olympics, President Kufuor said they would find the resources to carry the programme through.
Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, said under the Ministry's comprehensive sports reforms, equal attention would be given to all sporting disciplines.
He cited for commendation, Mr Sandy Osei Agyemang, Chairman of the Athletic Association of Ghana, whose enthusiasm and passion had resulted in Ghana winning more medals in international competitions.