A GNA feature by Richard Avornyotse

Accra, June 13, GNA The performance of the Black Stars in Germany at the World Cup in 2006 brought a new wave of recognition and appreciation to Ghana sports.

It was a beautiful reminder to the people of the world who had forgotten that way back in the sixties, little Ghana had won Olympic medals and had made a great impact in the Commonwealth and on the continent of Africa in sports.

The Kwame Nkrumah era, which had astute administrator, Ohene Djan in the saddle, produced the right condition for Ghanaian athletes to develop and win laurels for the country and made Ghana a powerhouse of African Sports.

No wonder Ghana won the first African Cup of Nations trophy for keeps in 1978 and annexed her fourth African title as far back as 1980, when no other country on the continent had won a third title. The Ignatius Gaisahs, the Majetie Fetries, the Vida Anims and the Margaret Simpsons of the current generation are indeed blazing the trail of their forerunners, who had inscribed the name of Ghana in glittering precious metals on the world sporting map.

The Mike Aheys, the Stan Allotteys, the Alice Anums, the Rose Harts and other track and field greats as well as a pool of distinguished boxers who had drawn global attention to Ghana through sports deserve to be saluted.

The Azumah Nelsons, the Nana Yaw Konadus, the Alfred Koteys, and the Ike Quarteys had all done their part to push Ghana sports upwards. Beyond the dossier of achievement of Ghanaians in sports came another landmark feat for Ghana last week when Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports was elected chairman of the Bureau of African Sports Ministers under an African Union dispensation.

The young Ghanaian minister now heads a five member Bureau of Ministers charged with crafting a roadmap for the realisation of Africa's sporting dreams.

At the same forum, Ghana won another feather in her cap when Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah was elected chairman of the Committee of Experts. Thus in the annals of the African Union, Ghana has assumed pole position in ensuri ng that the continent's dreams in relation to sports are realised.

While we salute the duo for their elevation and congratulate them on bringing honour to Mother Ghana, it is our hope that they will distinguish themselves and justify the confidence reposed in the Ghanaian by our brothers and sisters on the continent. Minister O.B. Amoah must be remembered as the Ghanaian under whose chairmanship African sports structures, policies and programmes were harmonised.

The Ghanaian chairman must lead the way to ensure that the aspirations of African leaders to use sports as a vehicle for the promotion of integration, solidarity, peace and healthy lifestyles are attainable with alacrity.

It is a very daunting task but not beyond the capability of Mr Amoah, who has demonstrated a great zeal to succeed since becoming a minister over two year ago.

Mr Amoah's primary objective will be to captain the ship successfully through turbulence and other hazardous spectres that might surface either through wilful manoeuvres of saboteurs or dint of natural circumstances.

He will have to deal with people with divergent views and attitudes and be at his persuasive best to carry majority of the ministers and their cohorts along.

The chairman will have to spearhead agenda to infuse private sector participation into the development of sports on the continent, while fostering the bond of togetherness among members to harness fully, the great potential of African talent to challenge for leadership in the world of sports.

The appointments of Mr Amoah and Dr Owusu Ansah to lead Africa in redefining its sports structures and other parameters are pluses for Ghana sports and it will be prudent on the part of everybody to support them and ensure they succeed.

The appointments are a testimony of the confidence our brothers and sister have in our abilities. We won laurels on the pitches, and in the tracks and fields. We won glory in the rings and we must celebrate the recognition that Ghana has chalked among the Council of Ministers of Sports in Africa.

Ghana sports are on the ascendancy once more, albeit in the boardroom of the African Union. Our national sports credentials are rising higher, rising beyond the pitches, tracks and fields. We must have cause to celebrate and commemorate, while we put our hands to the wheel to push the Chairman of the Bureau of African Sports Ministers to success. 13 June 07