Isaac Asiamah
Youth and Sports Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah has proposed a lean contingent for future sporting events henceforth.
Drawing lessons from the Australia Commonwealth Games debacle, the sports chief indicated that Ghana’s large contingent vis a vis the number of medals (One) are enough reasons to cut the number.
He justified his proposal with Namibia who sent not more 20 athletes but succeeded in winning two gold medals.
“Henceforth, we won’t send large contingent for tournaments; it is better to send few athletes who are well trained and equipped in their respective fields of endeavour than send large but half-baked.
“Our contingent was one of the largest in Australia, yet we didn’t impress on the medal table. Namibia sent few athletes but made impact.
“It was in my plans to cut down the number ahead of the games, but you will bear with me that the affected federation heads would have attacked me for not giving them and their athletes the opportunity for exposure.
“The culture of always wanting to travel outside should be stopped. I am looking for the day a federation head would approach me for a trip to Tamale or Kumasi for a competition.
“It is in the light of this that president Akufo-Addo is interested in us (Ministry) providing decent infrastructure for the youth, hence the nationwide Youth Resource Centres.”
The Minister nicknamed ‘Sharp Sharp’ due to the fact that he is results oriented added, “We should use sports to create employment; in sports lies huge potential for youth development. As a Ministry, we would continue to invest in sports infrastructure for the youth; when we achieve that, the youth will have no excuse not to excel in sports.”
Ghana sent close to 100 athletes for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and returned home with a bronze.
Meanwhile, the ‘Sharp Sharp’ Minister has announced the sod cutting of the Youth Resource Centre in the Central Region next week.
So far, construction works have begun at Azumah Nelson Complex (Kaneshie), Ho, Koforidua, Axim and Ashanti (Nyinahin).
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum