African Games: Focus On Positive Aspect- Sports Minister To Media

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has appealed to the media to give positive coverage to the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana.

At a presser on Monday, March 11, he said international officials are satisfied with the input of Ghana and looks forward to the same from Ghanaians.

“Every international official that we have engaged is applauding Ghana for a spectacular game so far. So let us all embrace and come and position as the sports destination that we all yearn for.”

He observes that the media has been awash with coverage of the challenges of Ghanaian athletes as well as some challenges posed to the Games and wants the media’s attention channelled into propagating the positives of the event.

“That is my appeal to the media. There are a lot of positives that we can talk and report about. Let’s focus on them and report so that we can position our country.”

The media have thrown light on the myriad of challenges Ghanaian athletes participating in the games face, particularly in the provision of kits.

The apparent neglect of the athletes by the government has taken a toll on their output at the event. Team Ghana has fallen short in competitions like badminton and table tennis.

Cyclist Michael Naaba withdrew from a race on March 10 due to a faulty bicycle with other cyclists revealing they had the sole responsibility of getting themselves bicycles and shoes for their races.

Badminton player Leslie Addo also told the media their team was conveyed to the competition ground in the bucket of their coach’s pickup trucks. He also disclosed he was provided a smaller shoe size for the game.

The Minister has absorbed himself and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the African Games of all the mishaps with the Ghanaian athletes.

He blames the actions and inactions of the various federations of the country.

Meanwhile, the competitions have witnessed some delays and postponements for technical reasons.

On March 9, during the women’s football match between Ghana and Ethiopia at the Cape Coast Stadium, the power supply got cut.

Additionally, men’s group beach volleyball game between Ghana and Burkina Faso was cancelled on March 11 due to poor visibility.

So far, Ghana has won five medals at the games and is in the top ten medal log.