GRi Sports Ghana
15 - 06 - 2001
Joe
Aggrey calls for report on ministry's financial situation
Ministry,
NSC to work out sponsorship deal
Limit number of international competitions-
Brock
Accra
(Greater Accra) 15 June 2001
Mr Joe
Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said on Wednesday that he has asked
for a report on the ministry's financial position.
"I
have just been informed that we have almost exhausted our budget," he
said, at a meeting of members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth,
Sports and Culture.
"I
have asked the accountant to check if it is true, then the ministry needs
assistance," he said.
He told
members of the committee who had called on him to acquaint themselves with the
state of affairs at the ministry that they should forward the plight of his
ministry to parliament for consideration.
He said if
a nation invests in a proper sports policy, it stands to benefit in the long
term because there will be fewer people to demand medical attention.
The Deputy
Minister said the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which is tasked with the
implementation of youth empowerment programmes, would not be able to function
accordingly if enough funds were not made available to it.
Mr Aggrey
implored the Members of Parliament to visit the ministry, its departments and
affiliates often to see the precarious state of affairs.
The
minister said he had found out that Ghana no longer commanded respect in sports
on the African continent because there was no developmental base to tap from.
He said he
was shocked by the avalanche of problems that existed at the Sports Ministry
and regretted the low staff position of sporting associations, adding that
there has not been any development plan to implement.
Mr Aggrey
said the staff position of the National Sports Council would worsen if
provisions in the annual budget were strictly adhered to because most of those
working now were on contracts and if their contracts were not renewed
"then there will be nobody to do anything."
Responding
to the deputy minister's appeal, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Chairman of the
committee assured Mr Aggrey that the committee would forward the deputy
minister's concerns to their colleagues in Parliament for deliberation.
He said
they were concerned about developments at the ministry as they were aware that
the Vice President, who has oversight responsibility, was very busy and a
substantive minister was yet to be appointed.
Mr Bonsu
said their visit was to afford them the opportunity to "fraternise,
socialise and identify the problems the deputy minister might have been
encountering."
The
chairman described sports as "the vehicle that unites the nation" and
pledged the unflinching support of members towards the realisation of the
ministry's objectives.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 15 June 2001
The Youth
and Sports ministry and the National Sports Council (NSC) are in close touch
with some top business organisations to secure sponsorship deals for tennis
players in the country to enable them to participate in circuit tournaments.
Brigadier
George Brock, Acting Chief Executive, NSC said in Accra Wednesday at a meeting
with Parliamentary select committee on Sports, Youth and culture, the ministry
and its departments that the deal is to lift the heavy burden of mass funding
of sports off the government and encourage private participation.
The meeting
was to allow the committee to socialise, fraternise and get a first hand
knowledge about action plans and problems of the various departments under the
ministry.
Brigadier
Brock could however not says which companies or organisations are being
contacted.
Currently,
the Winneba Sports College is running a non-residential tennis academy for over
70 tennis players and it is believed these young players would help put Ghana
back on the world tennis map within a period of four years.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 15 June 2001
Brigadier
George Brock, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC)
Wednesday, urged the Youth and Sports Ministry to limit participation in
international competitions and redirect resources towards the provision of
infrastructure.
He said for
now, the country should focus on the Africa and World Cup qualifiers, the Davis
Cup, World and Africa Athletics championships in order to conserve money to lay
the foundation for sports development.
Brigadier
Brock was briefing the parliamentary select committee on Youth, Sports and
Culture, led by its chairman Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu in Accra on the NSC's
action plan between now and 2004.
The meeting
was at the instance of the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Joe Aggrey,
to brief the select committee on plans and problems of the ministry and its
dependent associations and departments which include the NSC, National Youth
Council and the National Sports College, in Winneba.
Brigadier
Brock said as part of the plans of the NSC, no other team apart from soccer
should travel with more than six athletes in a bid to cut down on cost.
He said
criteria for the selection of athletes in such disciplines, which includes
boxing, should be based on track record and current form.
The Acting
Chief Executive reiterated the need to strengthened the schools and colleges'
competitions and the armed forces games, which hitherto was a breeding ground
for talents.
He said
Ghana, the one time shining star in Africa, is now a pale shadow of herself and
called for a pragmatic approach to rejuvenate and revitalise sports in the
country.
The
Brigadier noted that sports is a potential tool for poverty alleviation and
urged all district assemblies to devote part of their common fund to the
development of sports in their areas, thereby providing jobs to the youth which
would gradually help alleviate poverty.
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