Nii Lante Vanderpuije, Minister designate for the Youth and Sports Ministry is certain he will still be head of the office in 2017.

The rampant change of Sports Ministers has seen 16 politicians assigned to the ministry in the last 15 years.

The former GBC Sports Commentator, who replaces Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, will last for nine months in office until January 2017, when he will be expected to hand over if a new party wins power.

But, Vanderpuije, who faces the Parliamentary Appointment Committee on Monday, is sure he will remain as the Sports Minister in 2017.

“I am very optimistic that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama will win the elections this year and I am very optimistic that in 2017, I will still be the Sports Minister in this country,” Vanderpuije told the media.

“That is when an elaborate long term vision for Ghana sports will be really put in place. For now, we will prepare the grounds for that journey,” he added.