Veep commissions a 900m Youth and Sports
building
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 October 2000
The minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. E. T. Mensah on Monday lambasted sports writers for their alleged negative reportage, especially after the country's sportsmen and women failure to win any medal at the just ended Olympics games in Sydney.
He described the press as novices, who more often than not, have no knowledge about what they write.
"The press is to educate and entertain- how do you educate if you the writer is not informed", he asked.
The minister, noted for such attacks on the media especially those from the FM Stations, further embarrassed young sports journalists gathered at the commissioning of the ministry's new 900 million cedis building in Accra, by tagging them as "football writers", who know nothing about what they write.
The minister throwing light on Ghana's contingent to the games, said 30 sportsmen and women made up of 25 athletes, five boxers and 14 officials in accordance with International Olympic Committee rule 42 were sent to Sydney.
He said according to the rule, each participating country was at liberty to send whatever number possible depending on disciplines the country offers to participate and the need to qualify.
Mr. Mensah said comparing contingent from other countries, Ghana's could be said to be one of the lowest hence " we cannot comprehend the hullabaloo about the number".
He cited U. S. top sprinter Marion Jones as bringing to the games four personal officials and wonders if 14 officials for 30 sportsmen and women were too high.
Mr. Mensah said for the first time in the history of the nation, a Ghanaian (Aziz Zakari) was able to make it to the last eight of the 100 metres finals.
But his statement was in sharp contrast with that of the Vice-president, Professor John Evans Atta-Mills who admitted that the country's recent record on the international scene has not been too impressive.
Professor Mills who commissioned the building said there is the need to look into the cause for the poor showings, whether they relate planning, training, discipline and finance and promised that practical steps should be taken to regain the nations lost glory.
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Veep commissions a 900m Youth and Sports
building
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 October 2000
The Vice-President, Professor John Evans Atta-Mills on Monday said while some of the country's sportsmen and women have performed creditably well, Ghana's recent record at the international scene has not been too impressive.
"We need to get to the bottom of the reason for this, whether they relate to planning, training, discipline, finance or other reasons, and take practical steps towards regaining our outstanding place among sporting nations".
The Vice-President was commissioning a new 900 million cedis 36-room block offices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Accra.
The commissioning is the beginning of the ministry's weeklong meet-the-press and photo exhibitions.
Professor Mills also commissioned a media centre erected during the 22nd Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2000) at the Accra Sports Stadium where he opened a photo exhibition and artefacts at the stadium.
He noted that sports is a big business when properly managed and can provide the basis for local industries in the manufacturing of sports clothing and equipment and the creation of job opportunities.
"Sports is therefore an important social and economic force which we need to harness fully for national development", he added.
Touching on the new sports bill, which is before parliament, the Vice President said it is aimed at re-establishing the National Sports Council in line with the 1992 constitution.
He said the anomaly of a chairman who is at the same time the chief executive and in effect giving himself directives and monitoring his own performance will be eliminated so that there can be a clear distinction between the governing body and the staff of the council.
Professor Mills said a number of commercial firms have been making commendable contributions to sports development by sponsoring events and programmes.
He said the private sector must however be encouraged to do more, both in the provision of infrastructure and equipment and in sporting activities.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah regretted that most people treat his outfit as though it is not important.
He said a close look that the manifesto of the various political parties, only the National Democratic Congress has a comprehensive programme for the sector ministry. "If you don't know how to plan sports today, then you belong to the archives", he said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 October 2000
The annual Accra Open Golf championship tees off at the Achimota Golf Course in Accra from Friday, October 20 and ends on Sunday, October 22.
Nana Atta Nyamekye, Captain of the Achimota Golf Club who announced this in Accra on Monday, said the two-day 36-hole scratch event open to amateur and professional golfers from Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, is being sponsored by Distillers Corporation of South Africa.
He said qualification for the competition, which is expected to attract over 180 participants, is handicap 12 but those with handicap 16 may be considered.
The Professionals will engage in a three-day 54-hole hectic competition beginning from Friday.
Nana Nyamekye announced that CAL Merchant Bank has agreed to partly sponsor the event by donating 10 prizes.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Government officials are expected to grace the occasion.
E.M. Kwame is the defending champion.
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Accra (Ghana) 17 October 2000
Accra Hearts of Oak beat a stubborn Lobi Stars F/C of Makurdi, Nigeria, 2-0 in an African Champions League match at the Accra Sports Stadium in Sunday.
Hearts kicked off and swung into attack immediately when Kenneth Sarpong raced on the right touch line and centred for Ishmael Addo who failed to connect.
In the fourth minute, Kenneth Sarpong swung a wild one over the bar when he was in a good position to score and four minutes later goalkeeper Emmanuel Abah denied Ishmael another scoring opportunity.
The catalogue of misses continued as Hearts fluffed chance after chance with Addo and Sarpong as the key culprits.
Lobi began to show signs of determination and aggression and in the 17th minute, centre forward Mohamed Mohammed squeezed a shot through the Hearts rear line but missed narrowly.
The crunchy tackles of the Nigerians froze the aggression of the Phobians as they became lethargic up-front, making a lot of elementary mistakes.
In the 22nd minute however, Hearts scored the first goal. Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, who had a great game picked a loose ball from mid-field and raced up-front before letting go a tricky grounder which bounced off the left upright and Sarpong tapped it in for the opener.
Hearts misses continued when Kuffour missed a sitter in the 33rd minute to the relief of the visitors, after being put through by Charles Taylor who did a great run down the left flank.
When Hearts raised the throttle towards the end of the first half, Ishmael Addo was presented with a chance to increase the tally but he fired straight at Abah in goal for Lobi from about four metres.
A minute after that, Kuffour also failed to hit home a fine opportunity, master-minded, by Ishmael.
In the second half, Lobi increased the tempo of their game and tormented the Hearts defence but failed to turn their superiority and possession into goals, as they were content with crisp mid-field drills and antics.
Hearts however glittered in the 55th minute when Adjah Tetteh cracked a pile-driver, which was tipped over the bar by Abah.
Though the visitors had more possession it was Hearts who created the chances, but on numerous occasions failed to score.
In the 71st minute the power of the visitors was reduced when stalwart defender, Joseph Ikweche was red carded for tripping Kuffour from behind as he was racing towards goal.
In the 83rd minute Hearts increased the tally to two when Osei Kuffour jabbed in a pass from Charles Taylor who had woven through three defenders on the right flank before centring the ball into the penalty area of Lobi.
The goal took the zeal out of the visitors, but Hearts continued, with their near misses till Libyan referee Shelmani Abdulkarim ended proceedings.
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