Alhaji Ahmed Bandoh CEO of Bahmed Travel and Tours, accredited agency of the Ghana Football Association has urged the nation’s authorities to take sports tourism very serious and participate in programmes that would open up the nation to bring more business.

Speaking to yours truly in Accra, the experienced travel and tour operator said Ghana abounds in vast tourism potentials and there is the need for people to know what their nation has to offer visitors. He has therefore urged Ghanaians to take advantage of international football matches of the Black Stars to tell what Ghanaians can do as well as what they can gain from other countries.

The man who has been operating in the tourism sector since 2000 noted that Africa has many sites not exposed to the world why it’s so good that South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup, reckoning that it would be an ideal situation if Ghana also gets the opportunity to host another international football event that would bring tourists and businessmen to the great West African nation.

He expressed that sports can make people rich and it is up to Ghanaians to take full advantage to support any idea to host an international event.

Alhaji Bandoh whose company is one of the accredited agencies authorised to fly football fans to the United Kingdom to watch the historic Ghana versus England friendly game noted that sports events are very important as they rake in much foreign exchange, aside from finding jobs for the citizens.

He asserts that the game between the Black Stars and the Three Lions of England will really test the Ghanaian national team, as they will also face opposition from the vociferous English fans. "It is for this reason that I will encourage more Ghanaians to try as much as possible to watch the game live at the famous Wembley Stadium," he urged.

Alhaji Bandoh, a former director of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and a member of the Accra East Old Stars football team hinted that Ghana is capable of beating England in their own backyard because most players of the Black Stars ply their trades in Europe and would not be intimidated by the fans.

He advised the current crop of players who play in the local leagues to make time to watch old stars like Mohammed Polo and Ayitey Dormon among others in the ongoing Oldies Football League, so as to pick a few ideas and tricks and add them to what the Almighty has given them as talents.

He also prayed that players will be disciplined as that is the only key that can open big opportunities for them.

*Credit: Sammy Heywood Okine / SportsInGhana.com