Accra (Greater Accra), 28th June 99 -

Mr Justice Daniel F. Annan, Speaker of Parliament, on Friday said though government may continue to support sports development and promotion, the modern trend of sports management lies in the private sector.

"All over the world, private sector organisations provide and manage sports facilities, sports academies, sports consultancies and medical centres while government only provides and monitors policy framework for its development and promotion," he said.

Mr Annan said this in a speech read for him at the maiden Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) Awards and Dinner dance held at the Banquet Hall, State House, to raise funds for Ghana's participation in the All Africa Games slated for South Africa in September and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

He said if sports development is to be accelerated and sustained in Ghana, there is the need to move it from total dependence on government to private sector initiatives.

"This is where the government and people should consider the GOC a very reliable partner in moving sports along modern trends".

Mr Annan noted that the GOC is one noble institution run by men of high social standing and the government must give it its full support to solicit for funds for the preparation and participation of sportsmen and women and also for sports programmes and projects.

"I am hopeful that the three billion cedis that the GOC has set itself to achieve from now till the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000 would be realisable," he said.

Professor Patrick Addy, a Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, commended the GOC for their immense contributions towards the Olympic movement in Ghana.

He said since the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, Ghana has been committed to the Olympic Games and that the success achieved has contributed to national pride and unity.

Prof. Addy called on Ghanaians to use sports as a discipline for exhibiting loyalty and commitment to the nation by contributing towards the preparation and participation in the upcoming Games in order to attain honours for the country.

Mr B.T. Baba, President of the GOC, said Ghana's ability to participate in the Games requires massive financial support and gave the assurance that the funds accrued would be used judiciously.

Various Ghanaian sportsmen and women who have won gold medals at previous Olympic and Commonwealth Games were honoured.

They include Eddie Blay, Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey Snr., Joe Darkey, Alice Anum, Sulley Shittu, Flash Emma, E,C.O. Addy, Raymond Narh, and others.

Companies including Nestle Ghana Limited, Ghana Breweries Limited, Akosombo Textiles Company and Graphic Corporation, which have supported sports development and promotion, were honoured.

As part of the programme, popular music star, Charles Kwadwo Fosu (Daddy Lumba), who has been nominated as a music ambassador of the GOC, performed alongside The Marriots International Band.

There was also a fashion show by Ecstasy Fashions while GOC souvenirs, clocks and T-shirts were on sale.