The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah. has been inaugurated a 25 member planning committee to oversee Ghana’s preparation towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland. The committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Joseph Yammin, has members drawn from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ghana Olympic Committee, National Sports Authority, Para Sports, various Sports Associations, National Security and State Protocol. Outdooring the team, Hon. Afriyie-Ankrah stated that Ghana was looking forward to a historical performance by its Athletes and charged the planning Committee to work hard to make Ghana’s preparation for, participation in Glasgow 2014 a talking point in the country for a long time to come.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports is currently studying the Sports Funding documents and would soon hold discussions with other stakeholders to ensure its smooth implementation. This I believe, when actualized, will take a lot of Sports funding burden off government” he expressed. Hon. Afriyie-Ankrah said that other infrastructural and social responsibilities on Government budget made it a challenge for government to meet all financial demands required for sports development, thus the need to get corporate Ghana on board. He urged the committee to work hand in hand with the media to give better mileage to corporate organizations who partner with Government to develop sports in the country.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Yammin expressed the appreciation of the members for the privilege of serving the committee and reassured the Minister that they would deliver a success story.

Daniel Annan, an advisor to the ministry, and Ben Nunoo Mensah, Chef De Mission of the games, are first and second vice chairmen respectively. Others are Alice Attipoe, acting Director General of the National Sports Authority(NSA), third vice chairperson; Seth Osei-Agyin, secretary; Alhaji Abdulai Yakubu, Prosper Apasu, Professor Francis Dodoo, Dr Deborah Cubagee, Richard Akpokarvie, Hajia Joyce Mahama Zeinab, Eric Mwinyele Banoeyele, Erasmus Adorkor and Gabriel Nikoi.

The rest are Enoch O. Mensah, Bawah Fuseini, Nestor Ghalley, Bishop Adjah Cofie, Mawuko Afadzinu, Hussein Addy, Mohammed Sahnoon, Ambassador Ray Quarcoo, Theophilus Edzie, Emmanuel Tetteh and Cillian Walsh.

Mr. Ben Nunoo-Mensah assured Ghanaians of a very high level performance at the Commonwealth Games and thanked the Minister for his personal involvement in ensuring that all the needed support was given to that effect. Ghana would participate in events such as weightlifting, boxing, athletics, swimming and judo.

The Queen of England’s baton relay was organized in Ghana recently to confirm the readiness of the 2014 Commonwealth Games which hopes to attract over 70 nations including Jamaica, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.