The Sports Writers' Association of Ghana (SWAG) has urged Papa Owusu Ankomah, newly appointed Youth and Sports minister to make a lasting impression on Ghana sports by getting the government to construct the proposed National Olympic Complex in Accra and improve on sporting facilities in the country.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday and signed by its acting president, Ebo Quansah, SWAG said sporting installations and facilities throughout the country are in a state of disrepair.

"This country's inability to perform at international competitions could be traced to luck of facilities and effective technical direction", the statement said.

The statement, which touched on various issues regretted that sportsmen and sportswomen were being taxed instead of "aiding them to perform".

The SWAG asked the new minister not to hesitate to apply the stick in his endeavour to clean the stables of sports promotion.

"We urge you and your deputy to be resolute. Sports promotion has been undermined by a culture of mediocrity at both the National Sports Country and the ministry. Please get rid of dead woods while rewarding productivity", the statement added.

The message assured the minister of the co-operation of SWAG in the difficult task of restructuring sports promotion in the country.

The association also asked for the immediate repeal of SMC decree 54, which still directs sports promotion in the country.

"In an age of professionalism in international sports, this country has no alternative than to follow suit. We have the hunch that this country is gradually losing pace with international sports because officialdom have still not mustered courage to rid sports promotion in this country of mediocre performers", the statement said.

"You can count on SWAG as an important arm in sports promotion in this country to co-operate with the ministry in this difficult task of re-directing the fortunes of Ghana sports", the statement added.