Accra, Aug. 20, GNA - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNCEF), Ghana, on Monday designated Marcel Desailly, an accomplished footballer, as the first Goodwill Ambassador to advocate the welfare of Ghanaian children.

Desailly a Ghanaian who was adopted at the age of four, moved to France where he played for the French national football team. Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF Representative in Ghana, announced at a press conference in Accra on Monday that Desailly was a role model for children as an achiever and leader who had excelled in his own profession as a football player.

"He has won many prestigious cups and awards including 1998 World Cup for France and Euro 2000 Cup," she said.

Dr Haque said Desailly was committed to supporting children to reach their potentials and had demonstrated this by working with organizations that worked with and for children.

She said Desailly, as an Ambassador, would participate in UNICEF-supported activities and campaigns to raise awareness on key and critical actions concerning children in Ghana.

"During the up-coming African Cup of Nations, CAN 2008, Marcel will collaborate with UNICEF and partners to promote universal primary education."

Dr Haque noted that UNICEF goodwill ambassadors did not take on the mission for financial gain, but they contributed their time and used their own extensive networks and associations to disseminate messages to the public.

"UNICEF goodwill ambassadors are making tremendous contributions by raising awareness on key issues concerning children, like motivating children, their families, communities and decision makers to take actions for the best interest of children."

Dr Haque noted that Ghana had made significant progress in terms of school enrolment with the introduction of the capitation grant and urged government to ensure that children in school received quality education. Desailly, whose Ghanaian name is Odenke Abbey, noted that children could also learn a lot through sports and affirmed his commitment to the job.

"UNICEF considers sports as an important part of education. I can tell from my own experience that playing football helped me gain self-discipline, confidence, negotiation skills, team work and leadership."

Desailly encouraged children to express their opinion and do their best to achieve their dreams. He also urged parents to listen and offer their best support to their children even if they were poor. "I decided to commit at least some part of my time for causes I find to be worthy," he said. He noted that people identified themselves with him hence it was prudent to use that fame to make an impact on children and help them in shaping their goals.

Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, expressed the hope that with Desailly's involvement in advocating universal primary education for all children, Ghana stood the chance of attaining the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on education by 2015. Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, announced that next December Ghana would host a major conference on Sports and Peace organized by the United Nations.

He said the UN was more involved with using sports to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adding that the CAN 2008 would offer Desailly and UNICEF the platform to educate not only Ghanaians, but also the entire world about the need for education, especially for children.