Accra, Sept 30, GNA - The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has initiated a deliberate policy to promote Ghanaians to serve on committees of international sports organisations to enhance the country's image and intercede on her behalf in decision making. Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the sector minister harped on this in Accra on Wednesday when 15 distinguished sportsmen and women were inducted into the first-ever National Sports Hall of Fame.

The 15 included one sports administrator Dr. Nkansa Gyane, two female athletes, five boxers, one male athlete and six footballers. He said the policy cuts across political inclination and other consideration adding, "even when we disagree we should look at the national interest first".

The Minister noted that the only way the country's sports ambitions and international recognitions could be realised was to support competent Ghanaians into such international bodies as FIFA, CAF and the IOC to enable them to lobby the big wigs in the national interest. He said this initiative would make real the ministry's 50-year programme of hosting various competitions beginning with next year's West Africa Games.

Top among the list is the desire to host the Olympics Games and the World Cup within the next 30 years.

One of such targets has been achieved - the right to host the Nations Cup in 2008- and already, a four-man Local Organising Committee, which will be expanded to 11, has been formed.

Meanwhile, nine international construction companies, including Arab Contractors have submitted bids to build two new stadia at Tamale and Sekondi-Tarkoradi for the 2008 bi-annual soccer showpiece and to rehabilitate those in Accra and Kumasi.