Ghana Investment Promotion Centre supports plan

The Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Kwesi Abeasi, has described as innovative the Joe Aggrey Committee Report on "Plan for Sports Development in Ghana," and pledged the support of the Centre towards the new vision which seeks to reposition sports as the embodiment of the spirit of a new Ghana and a tool for poverty alleviation.

Addressing members of the Committee for the Implementation of the report, who called on him to solicit the support of the GIPC in evolving a new attractive incentive regime for greater private sector participation in the provision of sports infrastructure, Abeasi pointed out that there were very germane plans in the report which when carefully pursued might set the proper direction of sports development as a veritable business venture in the country.

The five-member Implementation Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr E. Owusu-Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council, were at the Centre to request for concession for investors in sports infrastructure development similar to what pertain in the real estate industry.

These may include longer periods for tax exemption for the construction of stadia, leisure centres, swimming pools, gymnasia and courts, as well as other sports infrastructure to be spread all over the country for the attainment of the vision as designed in the report.

Present at the meeting were Dr Peter Ankrah, Director responsible for Promotion and Public Relations and Kwabena Antwi, Public Relations Manager, both of the GIPC.

Abeasi promised to set up a committee to immediately come out with guidelines for incentives for sports infrastructure development for the attention of the government, saying, "consideration would be given to the possibility of making sports part of future investment trips abroad."

He advised that football should be de-emphasised while more attention is given to other sports disciplines that also serve as an avenue for the well-being and better character development of Ghanaians.

Abeasi agreed that it would be of interest to carry out an economic impact assessment of sports in Ghana as a prelude to the process of passing the National Sports Bill in order to determine its contribution to the national economy and also quantify its strategic importance for national development planning and its use as an economic indicator.