Barely two years after co-hosting the Africa Cup of Nations with neighbouring Nigeria, Ghana is preparing documents to lobby the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to host the bi-annual soccer fiesta in 2008.

However, this ambition is yet to get approval from government.

Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, Youth and Sports Minister told GNA Sports in Accra that if government gives the go-ahead, a committee would immediately be set up to strategise for a successful bid.

This, he said, would be the premise on which the ministry's "radical" infrastructure drive could be built.

Already, drawings for the Tamale Kaladan Park and a new site at Sunyani have been completed and all things being equal, these two could be the forerunners of ambitious 10-regional stadia projects.

The minister said at least, four world-class stadiums have to be constructed before 2008 coupled with further renovations on the Accra and Kumasi stadiums - the nation should be ready to host the rest of Africa footballing nations.

Although he could not mention any foreign partner off hand, Mr Osei-Kwaku said at least, 10 of them including a Chinese company have expressed interest in assisting to construct standard stadiums for the country.

Mr Osei-Kwaku said plans are afoot to build a games village to be attached to each stadium to serve as housing quarters for both teams.

The minister's zeal to improve facilities in the country was further rekindled after leading Ghana's contingent to the just ended Commonwealth Games in Manchester - where he admitted that poor infrastructure affected Ghana's medal haul.

He noted that if a country like Mali whose economy is no better than that of Ghana, has been able to successfully host an African Cup of Nations tournament "then we have no excuse than to persevere".

Mr Osei-Kwaku said he was very much inspired by Mali's achievement when he visited that country during the 23rd Africa Cup of Nations in January, and expressed the hope Ghana could even do better.

Asked whether his administration hopes to continue with feasibility studies on Ghana's proposed Olympics-size stadium off the Tema Motorway, the minister said, "Olympics stadium is not our priority".

He said what was important was to get each region in Ghana a modern stadium and not an Olympics-size stadium which the country could not afford.