Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has commended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare for his active involvement in the ongoing investigation into the murder of an Asante Kotoko supporter.
According to Mr. Adams, the level of personal commitment demonstrated by the IGP is commendable and reflects the seriousness with which the case is being handled. However, he emphasized that beyond initial actions, the investigation must be seen through to its conclusion.
“So far I’m impressed with the interest the IGP has personally shown in this matter. We are not going to leave this matter to comments and initial actions. The police have made arrests and are conducting investigations and prosecutions,” he stated in an interview with Starr FM.
He assured the public that the government remains resolute in ensuring that justice prevails, reiterating that no individual, regardless of their position in society, will be exempt from accountability.
“We are not going to shield anybody, regardless of your status in society. When crime is involved, nobody is above the law,” Mr. Adams affirmed.
His remarks come amid heightened public interest in the case, with many calling for swift and decisive action. Authorities have pledged to conduct thorough investigations to ensure that those responsible for the tragic incident are held accountable.
Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has identified key factors contributing to the decline of the Ghana Premier League (GPL), describing the competition as being in a “sorry state.”
The country’s top-tier football league has been struggling with several challenges, including poor officiating, lack of sponsorship, and issues with broadcast rights. Hooliganism has also tainted the competition, with a tragic incident occurring during a Week 19 clash between Asante Kotoko and Nsoatreman, where a fan, Francis Frimpong “Pooley,” was fatally stabbed in Nsoatre.
Speaking to Luv Sports, Adams highlighted five major issues plaguing the league: underfunding, poor discipline, weak corporate governance, fan indiscipline, and inadequate security measures.
“Our Premier League is in its sorry state,” Adams admitted.
“Underfunded, poor discipline, [poor] corporate governance system, fan indiscipline, lack of security, we are not even coaching our fans.
“We need to look at all these areas to try and up our game.”
Adams, 49, was recently sworn into office by President John Mahama, who expressed concerns about the state of Ghanaian sports. In his remarks, the president described the sector as “in shambles” and tasked Adams with restoring the country’s sporting pride.
Adams takes over from Mustafa Ussif, who served as Minister of Sports from 2021 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration led by Nana Akufo-Addo.
President John Mahama has nominated him for the position, and he will now face vetting by the Appointments Committee.
At 49 years old, Kofi Adams is set to take over from Mustafa Ussif, who served as Sports Minister since 2021 under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration.
“As a party member, I have done enough and knew I was going to play a role in the administration in one form or the other,” he told GHOne TV.
“I was prepared to serve in any Ministry but two [Attorney General and Finance Ministry] and so I am not surprised where I am taking to.
“It is a responsibility. I have identified, studied, followed it [sports] and we can work together as a country and bring our sports to a level that we all desire it should be.”
Kofi Adams is expected to improve the sports sector by upgrading facilities, securing funds for national teams, and boosting their performance in major competitions.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has issued a stern warning to Ghana’s Sports Minister, urging him to take responsibility for the recent ban on the Baba Yara Stadium by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a Facebook post, Ablakwa criticized the Sports Ministry for what he described as a failure to prevent the international embarrassment Ghana faced due to the poor condition of its national stadiums.
In his post, Ablakwa stated, “Ghana’s Sports Minister is basically saying that CAF is probably NDC and didn’t do their job by banning Ghana when the NDC was in power and made our stadia death traps. What a big joke!” He further lambasted the Minister for failing to apologize or resign over the incident, calling for the retrieval of funds allegedly spent on stadium rehabilitation.
Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif
He added, “Instead of this Minister apologizing for the unprecedented monumental international embarrassment, resigning and retrieving our monies from Kelvin Ofori-Atta, he is blaming CAF for securing NDC membership cards. Why is this Minister still at post? The Sports Minister, Kelvin Ofori-Atta, and all those who spent over GH¢85 million on stadia rehabilitations only for Ghana to be banned by CAF and be subjected to this unprecedented monumental international embarrassment should prepare for the day of accountability.”
Ablakwa’s comments follow CAF’s decision to withdraw its approval for the Baba Yara Stadium due to the poor condition of the pitch, despite recent renovation efforts. Ablakwa questioned how the government could spend over GH¢85 million on refurbishments and still face such a ban, suggesting that the funds may not have been utilized effectively.
In response, the Ministry of Youth and Sports described Ablakwa’s remarks as “disingenuous” and refuted his claims. In a detailed statement, the Ministry defended the renovation works carried out on the Accra, Baba Yara, and Essipong stadiums since 2018, stating that prior to these upgrades, some facilities had been neglected for nearly a decade.
“It is important to stress that, between 2009 and 2017, the erstwhile government did not carry out any major renovation on the Accra, Baba Yara, and Essipong stadia,” the Ministry’s statement read, countering Ablakwa’s suggestion that the renovations were ineffective.
The Ministry further noted that both the Accra and Baba Yara stadiums have hosted several high-profile matches since the upgrades, including FIFA/CAF-certified events like the 2018 African Women’s Cup of Nations, World Cup qualifiers, and AFCON qualifiers.
“It should be noted that FIFA/CAF Category 2 and 3 matches, including the 2018 AWCON, the 2019 AFCON qualifiers, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2023 AFCON qualifying matches were played at both the Accra and Baba Yara stadiums,” the Ministry highlighted.
Despite these claims, Ablakwa has remained resolute in his criticism, insisting that the Ministry must be held accountable for the situation and that those responsible for the expenditure should be prepared to answer for their actions.
The Ministry concluded its response by reaffirming its commitment to improving sports infrastructure in Ghana and ensuring that the country’s stadia continue to meet international standards.
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has denied accusations that it received $3 million from the Ministry of Youth and Sports as full payment for covering the 13th All African Games.
The state broadcaster dismissed the claim as entirely false and “shocking.”
In a recent interview, the Director General of GBC clarified that the corporation only received $105,000 for its coverage of the games, which took place in Ghana from March 8-23, 2024.
The Sports Ministry had made the claim during a session of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Monday, August 19.
“GBC was the official broadcaster for the 13th All African Games, and I can confirm that full payment has been made to GBC. I can’t remember the exact amount, but I know that it is in the excess of $3 million,” the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, told parliament.
But Professor Amin Alhassan said nothing more than $105,000 was paid as a benefit to the GBC for dedicating its channel.
Public Accounts Committee sitting: We paid GBC $ 3million for All African Games coverage – Mustapha Ussif #JoyNewspic.twitter.com/YP6mWjAi2R
“I think yesterday I was one of those who was shocked to learn that the minister of youth and sports said that they had paid GBC in excess of $3 million and I want to assure every Ghanaian and the public that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000 us dollars equivalent.
Nothing more was paid as a benefit to GBC. And that payment was as support for the fact that we dedicated an entire channel 24 hours. We suspended normal programming for the GTV Sports+ and dedicated it to the All African games.
And for our role as the official broadcaster. that is what the GBC was paid and not in excess of $3 million,” he responded.
Prof Alhassan further explained that the amount was used to offset the corporation’s opportunity cost.
“When you suspend a channel’s normal programming, there is an opportunity cost, so it’s used to offset the cost of the channel not doing regular programming. So there is a loss of business.
So it’s important to point out that when you take an entire channel 24 hours for two weeks, it comes at a cost, and that was what the money was for. So it was for our revenue. $105,000 and not in excess of 3 million dollars.”
Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has pointed to insufficient funds as the reason behind the poor condition of the National Youth Resource Centres.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, the Minister explained that while the project is 90 percent finished, contractors have not been paid, which has hindered the completion of the work.
He added that because of these payment delays, the projects have not been formally handed over to his office, leaving them still unavailable for use.
“We had challenges with some of them regarding payment to the contractors. I must admit. But because the contractors have not handed over the projects officially to us, we can’t go and use them. Because we have not commissioned them.”
He assured his sector is putting measures in place to get the needed funds for the contracts to finish the abandoned projects.
“We are working very hard to make sure that they get their payment and they can go back and complete them for us to use,” he said.
The deteriorating state of the Youth Resource Centres has led to public outcry regarding the management of these facilities by authorities.
The stadiums affected include the Ho Sports Complex, Navrongo Sports Complex, Dormaa Multipurpose Sports Complex, and the Azumah Nelson SportsComplex in Kaneshie.
Sports Minister Mustapha Yusif has slammed the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana for inadequate oversight in the application process for Ghanaians who entered Norway under false pretenses as Paralympic athletes.
This criticism follows reports that nine out of an 11-member Ghanaian Para-athlete team went missing upon arriving in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon this year.
A statement from the Ministry of National Security, addressed to the Sports Ministry and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, revealed that one para-athlete, Nana Antwi, has been detained by Norwegian authorities.
Additionally, the team’s coach, George Gyamfi Gyasi, died shortly after collapsing and being admitted to Oslo University Hospital on April 28, 2024.
The National Paralympic Committee has suspended three individuals believed to be involved in the incident.
The Minority is demanding an investigation into the matter. North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has claimed that the team did not officially register for the marathon, suggesting they had no intention of participating.
He also pointed out that the team’s ability to breach protocols and bypass institutions indicates that there may be more to the situation than is currently known.
“Diplomatic envoys or foreign service staff have questions to answer. They did not even register for the game. They had no intention to participate in the game,” he said.
Responding to a question at a news conference in Accra about whether or not he takes responsibility for the latest scandal, Mustapha Yussif indicated that “the Norwegian authority which issued the Visas to the Athletes didn’t see it prudent to even verify from the ministry to see whether these are genuine athletes or not so to your question whether I take responsibility, I’m sorry I can’t.”
“We engaged, we checked and we realised that the letter was written, they forged my signature, forged my letter and applied for visas for some people who are not athletes,” he said
Former gangster and bank robber Gayton McKenzie, who transformed into a nightclub owner and opposition politician, has now been appointed asSouth Africa’s minister of sports, arts, and culture.
President Cyril Ramaphosa selected Mr. McKenzie, leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), for the position in the new multi-party government announced on Sunday, following the African National Congress (ANC) losing its parliamentary majority in the May 29 election.
A prolific tweeter, the 50-year-od relished his appointment, posting a photo of himself putting on football boots and, with a touch of humour, typed: “Thank you for all the well wishing messages, I will reply shortly I’m just busy getting ready, I have work to do 🥅 ⚽️.”
For Mr. McKenzie’s admirers, his appointment is a testament to how he overcame adversity to achieve success. He robbed his first bank before turning 16, became a fully-fledged gangster, and spent seven years in prison.
Following his release, he vowed to change his ways.
However, the nightclub he owned was later shut down, as was a branch in Cape Town registered in his name, following legal action over alleged unpaid rent and electricity, according to the IOL news site.
“I’m not interested in clubbing. I’m busy with other projects. We killed the Zar brand – there are no future plans [for Zar],” Mr McKenzie was quoted as saying at the time.
Nowadays, he is better known as a politician, having launched the Patriotic Alliance (PA) in 2013 with Mr. Kunene as his deputy. More than a decade later, the party secured 2% of the national vote and performed even better in the provincial elections in the Western Cape, achieving 8%.
The party’s support primarily came from the coloured community, as people of mixed race are referred to in South Africa.
The PA’s signature slogan is “Ons baiza nie”, an Afrikaans phrase which loosely translates as “We are not scared”. Afrikaans is widely spoken in the coloured community, which makes up around 8% of South Africa’s population.
“For the first time there is coloured people also going to parliament through the Patriotic Alliance. We are the only party that takes all races to parliament,” Mr McKenzie said, after the results were announced.
Political analyst Kagiso Pooe told the BBC that Mr McKenzie had a “bravado” style, which appeals to his constituency.
“People want to believe and see someone that comes from their type of background and isn’t shy to say: ‘This is who I am.’ You see it with people likePresident Zuma, President Trumpand other such personalities,” he said.
Mr McKenzie’s campaign against undocumented migrants was a vote-winner for him, the analyst added.
“Unfortunately, mainstream politicians and parties have shied away from this and he tackles it directly.”
Critics denounced his campaign as xenophobic. He waged it under the slogan “Abahambe”, which he has translated from the Zulu as “Let them go” – and, in a publicity stunt, he visited the border with Zimbabwe to chase away people trying to enter South Africa.
He faced accusations of hypocrisy, as critics highlighted a 2013 SABC interview where he described immigrants from other parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe, as an “integral” part of South Africa’s economy. In the same interview, he controversially stated, “the problem with us is – black people I’m talking about here – we are lazy.”
As Mr. Ramaphosa began negotiations for a coalition government, Mr. McKenzie publicly expressed his desire for his deputy to run the home affairs ministry, which oversees immigration. He also sought the police ministry for himself, arguing that his previous life as a gangster uniquely positioned him to address South Africa’s high crime rate.
“None of them [other politicians] are equipped to deal with the mafias, with the murder rates we are seeing. South Africa needs me,” he was quoted as saying by the TimesLive news site.
He was unperturbed when he failed to get the post, saying he had in fact asked for the sports ministry in “off-the-record” negotiations with the ANC. “Sport can be used to change children’s lives. A child in sport is a child out of court,” he said.
“There’s one promise I’ve made: I will make spinning [of cars] one of the biggest sports in this country,” he added in a live Facebook post.
Car spinning is a recognised motorsport in South Africa – it involves vehicles being driven in circles and a driver climbing out to perform stunts.
But there are many unregulated events and as IOL sports journalist John Goliath wrote, stigma still surrounds it as a lot of people in the coloured, Indian and black townships often do spinning in the streets, which is viewed as dangerous.
“The spinning of tyres started in the townships as a ritual to honour fallen gangsters during the apartheid era,” he said.
Mr McKenzie has promised to make it possible for car spinning to take place in a safe environment, and to help keep young people away from gangsterism and drugs. “The spinners will be recognised,” he said, adding: “When a boy has an interest in cars, he doesn’t have time for drugs. He just worries about his car.”
But Mr Ramaphosa’s decision to give Mr Mckenzie a seat in his cabinet is politically risky, as he is at the centre of an investigation ordered by the Western Cape government. It is controlled by the Democratic Alliance (DA), a fierce political rival of the PA, although they are now partners in Mr Ramaphosa’s government.
Until last year, Mr McKenzie was the mayor of Central Karoo, and was accused of failing to account for 3m rand ($161,000, £127,000) raised at a glitzy gala dinner in 2022 to improve public services, including repairing swimming pools and replacing bucket toilets.
According to local media, a court ordered him last month – just weeks before his promotion to the cabinet – to declare certain financial records to investigators.
While the PA described the ruling as “flawed”, the DA welcomed it, saying Mr McKenzie would “soon learn that corruption does not pay off”.
The DA kept up the pressure by picketing last week in the small town of Beaufort West, which is part of Central Karoo, to demand answers about the money.
Mr McKenzie said in a post on X that he intended to visit the area to give “feedback”.
“The truth shall come out. I have nothing to hide,” he said, adding: “Lies have short legs.”
“I might have had 12 rand in my pocket but I had billion rand in my mind. And that is what people do not understand – they concentrate on what they lack instead of how to get what they lack,” he said in a 2013 interview with public broadcaster SABC.
He became a highly paid motivational speaker and authored several books about his life, including“A Hustler’s Bible.” He also ventured into various businesses, ranging from mining in Zimbabwe to running nightclubs in South Africa, partnering with Kenny Kunene, his close friend from prison.
Mr. Kunene gained the nickname “Sushi King” after his extravagant 40th birthday party at the Zar Lounge nightclub in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb, where sushi was served on the bodies of women dressed only in their underwear.
Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, has reassured the public of complete transparency in accounting for expenditures related to the 2023 African Games, hosted by Ghana earlier this year.
Speaking before Parliament on Tuesday, June 25, Ussif addressed concerns regarding the financial oversight of the continental competition.
The 13th edition of the African Games took place across venues including the University of Ghana Stadium and Borteyman Sports Complex, where Ghanaian athletes showcased their talents.
During his parliamentary appearance, Minister Ussif clarified that the detailed financial account of the games was not included in his initial report due to pending parliamentary inquiries requesting a specific session for financial accountability.
“We are committed to full transparency. Every amount spent will be meticulously accounted for,” Ussif affirmed. He emphasized that there were no intentions to conceal financial details and urged the public to rest assured of comprehensive reporting.
Mustapha Ussif also highlighted Ghana’s sporting achievements, noting that the national team had secured an impressive total of 69 medals, marking a historic milestone in the country’s participation in the games.
“In addition to financial accountability, we should celebrate the remarkable achievements of our athletes who have proudly represented Ghana,” Ussif remarked, addressing the absence of official statements from the Minority congratulating Ghana’s sportsmen and women.
Richard Obeng, the head coach of Ghana’s national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, has disclosed that the team’s attempts to engage with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, were initially met with silence.
This revelation comes amid a backdrop of dissatisfaction expressed by the Minister over the team’s actions following their recent triumph.
The Black Challenge recently captured headlines by securing a remarkable 2-1 victory over Morocco in the final of the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations (AAFCON) held in Egypt, overcoming a goal deficit to claim the championship.
In the wake of their historic win, the team embarked on a series of courtesy calls, including a notable visit to former President John Dramani Mahama, who generously donated $10,000 to support the team.
However, these visits stirred controversy when the team finally presented themselves at the Sports Ministry.
Minister Mustapha Ussif voiced his dissatisfaction with the team for choosing to visit other individuals before formally engaging with the Ministry. He emphasized that such actions “cannot be tolerated” and expressed disappointment in the team’s decision to prioritize other personalities before attending to their official duties at the Ministry.
Ussif highlighted the importance of recognizing their role as state representatives when engaging in such activities.
Coach Obeng recounted in an interview with Akoma FM in Kumasi that their visit to the Ministry was marred by the Minister’s displeasure at their prior engagements.
He clarified that it was never their intention to seek support elsewhere before visiting the Ministry. According to Obeng, their initial attempts to schedule a meeting with the Minister were ignored.
“We were only called after we visited Ex-President Mahama. Prior to that, we had made a request to present the trophy before on the 3rd requested date that might be appropriate for the Minister. But we didn’t get any response. We only got his attention after we visited the Ex-President,” Obeng explained.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has directed the national amputee soccer team, the Black Challenge, to provide a detailed account of all donations received.
This directive comes after the team paid courtesy visits to various personalities before formally visiting the Ministry following their recent African triumph.
Mr Ussif expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s decision to visit other individuals before presenting themselves to the Ministry, stating that such actions “cannot be tolerated.”
He emphasized the importance of the team recognizing their role as representatives of the state when engaging in such activities.
The Black Challenge recently made headlines by securing a remarkable 2-1 victory over Morocco in the final of the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations (AAFCON) held in Egypt.
Following their triumph, the team embarked on a series of courtesy calls, including visits to former president John Dramani Mahama, who generously donated $10,000 to support the team.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has donated a cash reward of $10,000 to Ghana's Amputee Football team for successfully defending their AFCON title in Egypt.#3SportsGHpic.twitter.com/sHC7tlHYVj
However, when the Black Challenge finally visited the Sports Ministry to present the trophy, Ussif expressed his displeasure at their prior engagements.
He compared their conduct to previous years, criticizing their decision to prioritize visits to other personalities before attending to their official duties at the Ministry.
In response to their actions, the Minister instructed the President of the National Paralympic Committee to provide a detailed account of all donations received by the team.
“We will communicate after you have presented all the statements and all that you have received to my office,” Ussif stated.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has expressed dissatisfaction with the national amputee soccer team, the Black Challenge, for visiting some personalities before paying a courtesy call on the Ministry after the African triumph last month.#3SportsGHpic.twitter.com/82StYb9rlr
Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has expressed disappointment with Ghana’s national amputee soccer team, the Black Challenge, for not paying a courtesy call on the Ministry of Youth and Sports after their African triumph last month.
The team, which recently won the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations (AAFCON) in Egypt, visited several personalities including former President John Mahama who is the flagbearer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) before finally visiting the Ministry.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has donated a cash reward of $10,000 to Ghana's Amputee Football team for successfully defending their AFCON title in Egypt.#3SportsGHpic.twitter.com/sHC7tlHYVj
Minister Ussif stated, “That cannot be tolerated,” emphasizing the need for national teams to prioritize official visits to government institutions after such victories.
He pointed out that the team’s actions were different from the previous year when they visited the Ministry directly. This year, however, they chose to visit other personalities, including former president John Dramani Mahama, who donated $10,000 to the team.
During the team’s visit to the Sports Ministry to present the trophy, Minister Ussif expressed his displeasure, stating, “This year you started going from one place to another place to another place without even rendering records to government who sponsored you and that cannot be tolerated.”
He reminded the team that as a national team, they represent the state, and their actions should reflect this. He also charged the President of the National Paralympic Committee to account for every donation received by the team.
“We will communicate after you have presented all the statements [and] all that you have received to my office,” Minister Ussif said.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has expressed dissatisfaction with the national amputee soccer team, the Black Challenge, for visiting some personalities before paying a courtesy call on the Ministry after the African triumph last month.#3SportsGHpic.twitter.com/82StYb9rlr
Youth and Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, has voiced his concern over the persistently low attendance at Ghana Premier League matches, acknowledging it as an ongoing issue in the country’s top-flight football scene.
In an interview addressing the matter, Minister Ussif highlighted the challenge of low turnout that has plagued previous seasons and is continuing into the current campaign. He expressed worry about the declining attendance levels observed in various stadiums.
“I am not excited with the level of attendance during Ghana Premier League games,” he said on Asempa FM.
To combat this issue and reinvigorate interest in the league, the Minister unveiled plans for collaboration with the Ghana League Clubs Associations (GHALCA). One proposed solution involves deploying National Service Personnel to aid clubs in improving branding and creating compelling content aimed at attracting more fans to the stadiums.
“We just started that initiation and we know in the long run, it will yield the benefits we all want,” he added.
Reports from inside Jubilee House suggest that one minister who narrowly escaped the 14th February reshuffle was the Minister of Sports, Mustapha Ussif.
Close advisors of President Nana Akufo-Addo suggested that the embattled Minister and the Ministry be allowed to focus fully on the 13th African Games, which Ghana is hosting, showcasing the country’s commitment to hosting a world-class tournament with all preparations completed.
President Akufo-Addo agreed, especially since a week ahead of the reshuffle, he had officially commissioned the Borteyman Sports Complex, marking a significant milestone in Ghana’s preparations for the games.
During the commissioning, the Sports Minister appeared jittery and somber around the President, leading to suggestions that he should be sacked after the abysmal performance of the Black Stars at the just-ended African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Minister supervised the spending of more than US$3 million on the Stars’ doomed campaign that lasted less than two weeks, with local camping in Kumasi and flights to Ivory Coast borne by CAF.
The Yagaba Kubore lawmaker was seen following the President around without focus during the commissioning of the Borteyman Sports Complex, which has state-of-the-art facilities and will host seven competitive sports: table tennis, handball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, badminton, and the triathlon.
Notably, four of these disciplines – table tennis, tennis, triathlon, and badminton – will serve as qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, adding an extra layer of excitement and importance to the event.
The complex boasts a 1,000-seater capacity aquatic center featuring a 10-lane competition swimming pool alongside a 10-lane warm-up pool, as well as a 1,000-seater multi-purpose sports hall ready to host a myriad of events.
Additionally, a temporary dome accommodating 500 spectators adds further flexibility to the venue. Tennis enthusiasts will be thrilled by the five-court complex, which includes a prestigious 1,000-seater Centre Court.
Moreover, the Borteyman Sports Complex features a six-lane warm-up athletics track and a FIFA-standard football training field, ensuring athletes have access to top-notch training and competition venues.
Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, had an arm wrestling match with a female arm wrestler. They locked arms and tried to push each other, like a friendly competition.
It was a tie, which means neither of them won.
The minister looked happy and proud of himself for taking part in the fun contest.
This unexpected match showed that the minister likes to join in on different sports and have a good time.
It was a cool moment that everyone will remember!
Watch video below:
Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, engaged in an armwrestling contest with one of the female armwrestlers and appears satisfied that it ended in a stalemate. He’s very proud of himself as you can see. pic.twitter.com/2eTbj2NguQ
Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has stated that he anticipates a global audience of more than five billion people to watch the 2023 Africa Games.
The multisport event is scheduled to be hosted in Accra, Ghana, from March 8 to 23, 2024. Facilities at the Borteyman Sports Complex and the University of Ghana Stadium are expected to be handed over for the event in December.
Ussif mentioned during a session in Parliament that a partnership with the Olympic Channel is expected to attract this large global audience to watch the games.
“We are expecting over five thousand athletes, three thousand officials, two thousand volunteers and spectators in thousands.
“In terms of online and global viewing, we are expecting more than 5 billion because we are partnering with the Olympic channel as one of the media partners.”
“In terms of online and global viewing, we are expecting more than 5 billion”
Ghana's Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, says he expects a global audience of more than five billion to view the 2023 Africa Games, which will be hosted in Accra.#JoySportspic.twitter.com/1nrXUce34z
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Ussif Mustapha, has revealed that government has allocated $154 million for the reconstruction of the Legon Sports Stadium and other sports facilities, including a world-class rugby park, swimming pool, and athletics oval.
These upgraded facilities are set to be utilized for the 13th Africa Games, which will be held in Ghana next year.
Mr. Mustapha expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the facilities during the Meet-the-Press series organized by the Ministry of Information in Accra.
He emphasized that the quality of these sporting venues will not only make Ghana an excellent host for the African Games in 2023 but also position Accra as a major sports hub in West Africa and beyond.
“Facilities for the 13th African Games are almost complete for the Games in March next year. The quality of these facilities will open Ghana up to host other continen¬tal and world championships.”
Furthermore, the Minister stated that after the Games, the facilities will be transformed into a University for Sports Development, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
“This is the first time Ghana is hosting the Games since 1965; we are certain that we would host the best Games on the continent,” he stressed.
The collaboration between the Ghanaian government, the African Union (AU), and other stakeholders has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the Games in March 2024.
Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) received commendations from Mr. Mustapha for their dedication and hard work towards organizing the event.
Mr. Mustapha urged athletes and officials to prepare diligently for the Games and strive for a historic medal haul to justify the substantial investment in sports infrastructure.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting
sports development nationwide.
Ghana currently boasts 136 astro-turfs across the country, fostering juvenile and school sports. FIFA’s contribution of 30,000 footballs to be distributed to schools, along with the Ministry’s launch of the 1,000,000 football strategy, further exemplify the commitment to
football growth.
The presence of the AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and
Social Development, Minata Samate Cessouma, at the conference emphasized the
significance of the facilities for the continent.
She praised the initiatives that promote sports in Africa and called for member states to collaborate with Ghana in organizing the African Games in 2024, as it holds the potential to be a substantial revenue source for both the country and the entire continent.
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, claims it would be unjust to assess Chris Hughton, the coach of the Black Stars, after just two games.
The Irish-Ghanaian has had a successful first two games in charge of the national squad, winning one and drawing the other.
Prior to flying to Luanda to play the Palancas Negras in a 1-1 draw during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, Ghana defeated Angola 1-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Despite Hughton’s strong start, Mustapha Ussif has declined to evaluate his work.
“The objectives are set by the FA for him to ensure that we qualify for AFCON and also to ensure that we identify local talents from our league. To also ensure that we qualify for the World Cup and also to make sure that our ranking in the FIFA Ranking improves. These are the objectives in the contract that he has signed…”
Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif
“That is why I am saying it is too early to judge him. Judging a coach from two games won’t be fair. Let’s rally behind him and give him all the support he needs so he can deliver”
The Black Stars will be back to action in June for the remaining two AFCON qualifying games against Central Africa Republic and Madagascar.
The Black Stars crashed out of the Qatar tournament on Friday after Ghana lost 2-0 to Uruguay in the final Group H match of the tournament.
In his statement today, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has commended Ghanaians for giving massive support to the Black Stars at the World Cup.
“We are also impressed by the united and patriotic manner Ghanaians came together to offer the Black Stars their unflinching support. Football, the World Cup, and the Black Stars, brought the nation together beautifully as one people,” the Minister said in his statement on Sunday.
Read the full statement below:
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS ON THE PARTICIPATION OF THE BLACK STARS AT THE QATAR 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP
After our spirited performances in our first two group matches of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, Ghana’s campaign, has unfortunately ended, following the Black Stars’ defeat to Uruguay in our final group match.
Our target, going into the World Cup, was to progress from our group to the next round, and then continue our charge in the knockout stage, to better our impressive record in the World Cup.
Having put in all efforts, including financial, logistical and technical support towards our preparations, we were all confident our young team would be able to realise our national aspiration of going very far in the competition.
Indeed, the Black Stars won the hearts of many Ghanaians, as well as fans across the globe, with their spirited fightback against Portugal, and hard-fought victory over South Korea. Eventhough we fell short at the most crucial stage and bowed out of the competition in disappointment, we take solace in the lessons learnt, and the positives, especially the promising delivery of our young team.
We are also impressed by the united and patriotic manner Ghanaians came together to offer the Black Stars their unflinching support. Football, the World Cup and the Black Stars, brought the nation together beautifully as one people.
In the midst of global economic challenges, which had limitations to our finances, corporate Ghana responded remarkably to the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ fund-raising initiative to support the team, as well as President Akufo-Addo’s personal appeal for financial support. We are grateful to all corporate institutions for their kind and timely support, which contributed immensely not only towards the team’s qualification and preparations, but also made it possible to send a few Ghanaians to cheer on the team.
As a Government, we will not relent in our efforts towards sustainable sports development, to ensure that all our respective national teams, including the Black Stars, reach the height we desire.
For the Black Stars in particular, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue its partnership with all stakeholders, including the GFA, for a thorough review of the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign in Qatar, and the way forward.
Once again, we are grateful to all, for your diverse contributions towards the Black Stars’ 2022 World Cup campaign; from the qualifying series, to our last match on Friday, December 2, 2022.
