Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Joseph Yammin, has appealed to the private sector to partner government in the provision of sporting facilities to enhance sports in the country.

He also called on the private sector to avail themselves in the area of organisation and promotion of sporting events in the country; assuring that plans were in the pipeline for such organisations to benefit.

“As a ministry, we are working conscientiously to ensure that the necessary tax regimes are incorporated in the new sports law to appropriately reward sponsors and donors for their contribution towards sports development.”

Hon. Yammin was speaking during the maiden Ghana Basketball Awards 2013, held at the studios of TV Africa in Accra on Friday. The event saw basketball players that excelled during the past year being honoured.

He pointed out some key challenges, notably lack of facilities, facing lesser known sporting activities in the country including basketball, stating that the NDC administration was committed to address such anomalies.

The NDC government, he said, as part of advancing the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ intended to construct youth and sports centres in all the districts of the country to ensure that the youth got access to sports infrastructure to develop their talents.

In addition to this, he said government through the help from the Chinese government had started works on the Cape Coast stadium, whose completion would boast of modern facilities meant to develop lesser known sports.

Hon. Yammin commended the organisers of the awards ceremony for a good job done, hoping “this Award Ceremony, will open doors and opportunities for players and officials, who strive to make basketball a career avenue in Ghana.”

Basketball players including males and females that excelled in their various categories were presented with prizes. Baniba Dodzi, CEPS and Accra Polytechnic, was adjudged the MVP of the year.

The rest were Daniel Owusu, Mfanstipim Basic School, Most Promising Player, Julian Morgan, Mfantsipim, High School Player of the year, boys division and Matilda Gordon, Aggrey Memorial, High School Player of the year, girl’s category.

The rest who also took home prizes were Mavis Martey, Police, Female Player of the year, Ghana U-18 Team, team of the year, Samuel Baah, Referee of the year and Brimah Lawal, CEPS, Accra Poly, Coach of the year.