Accra (Greater Accra) 8 March '99

Vice-President John Atta Mills on Monday congratulated the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for assisting Ghana to successfully host the 11th Africa U-20 soccer championship. He also congratulated the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on its tireless efforts to prove that Ghana can stand up to the task and said: "we are proud of them." Prof. Mills was speaking at the Castle, Osu, when he received CAF president Issa Hayatou. The two men held closed-door discussions on preparations towards the African Cup of Nations' tournament for the year 2000. CAF has said it would take the tournament from Zimbabwe and Ghana has indicated that it would host it if the federation's decision was final. Mr Hayatou thanked the government for what it did for CAF during the period of the tournament from February 21 to Sunday, March seven. He said the success story of Ghana '99 is a signal to the world that Ghana, and Africa in general, are capable of doing what others can do when given the chance. Mr Hayatou said FIFA president, Mr Sepp Blatter, who was in Accra to watch the final match, left with good impressions about Africa's capabilities. Ghana beat Nigeria 1-0 to win the gold medal in the final, watched by about 50,000 fans, including President Jerry Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu as well as Vice-President Mills. The CAF President was accompanied to the Castle by Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Youth and Sports and Alhaji M.N.D Jawula, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association.