Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Minister for Youth and Sports, on Thursday, visited Ghana's Swimming National team in Kazan, Russia, at the ongoing 2015 World Swimming Championships.

The minister who is in Russia for an official working visit took the opportunity to visit the swimmers in the Athletes village to discuss their welfare and motivate them to deliver.

"I travelled all the way to Kazan to assure you that the Government and Ghanaians in general are behind you.

Gone are the days when footballers were the only athletes who enjoyed all the privileges. For me as Sports Minister, all disciplines are the same.

We at the Ministry will accord you the same respect and recognition as we do to our footballers at the World Cup.

"You must work very hard to project the image of the country at this World Swimming Championships and we shall reward you handsomely,” he said.

Dr. Ahmed also met officials of International Swimming Federation and held discussion on how to promote the sport in Ghana especially in the area of infrastructure.

He appealed to them to send resource persons to Ghana to help train coaches as part of efforts to improve the sport.