Accra, Oct.29, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, on Wednesday said government's decision to bid for the 26th African Cup of Nations Tournament in 2008 (CAN 2008), marked a committed beginning of government-private sector co-operation to recapture the lost glory of Ghana sports.

He therefore, called on all stakeholders in Ghana sports to give their individual and collective backing by making the requisite inputs for a successful bidding.

Alhaji Aliu said this when inaugurating eight sub-committees for the bid at the Castle, Osu.

These were international relations and local lobbying, venues development, security and medical, public, media relations, marketing and advertising.

The rest were, transportation and communications, hospitality, accommodation and protocol, finance and legal and Team 2008 facilitation and Ad-hoc sub-committee on incentive scheme for sponsors of sports. Cabinet in November 2002 gave tentative approval for Ghana to bid for the hosting and organisation of the tournament.

The Vice President said the work before the committees was enormous and there was very little time within which to accomplish it, but to succeed, they were required to apply themselves diligently to their responsibilities to create bridges of co-operation among all the stakeholders.

"We as a government will do our part to facilitate your efforts in re-designing public-private sector co-operation and participation in sports development", he said.

Alhaji Aliu asked members of the committees not to underestimate the enormity of the task ahead, as other nations were also preparing to outdo Ghana by winning the bid to host CAN 2008.

He said they should also not hesitate to tap the experiences of other notable countries that had successfully hosted the tournament and the efforts of Ghanaian compatriots who managed the affairs of CAN 1978 and CAN 2000.

Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Minister of State (Youth and Sports) said Ghana sports had reached a very critical stage that required the combined efforts of all stakeholders to move it forward.

Sports, he said was now a multi-million dollar industry that required sound expertise and business acumen to attract the necessary investment to make it achieve its desired result.

Dr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the 15-member Ghana Bid Committee, said for Ghana to make a successful bid to host the tournament, the country must have in place the requisite infrastructure and support facilities that were necessary and indispensable.

He said Ghana must apply strict discipline and focus to crystallize the opportunities and challenges contained in the bid process.

Dr Amoah called on members of the sub-committees to be inventive and stubborn in their search for the formula that would not only redefine sports as a lucrative business with great employment potentials for the youth and tax revenue for the country, but must appreciate the entertainment and unifying characteristics of sports for Ghanaians.