Ghatel ladies in Women’s WAFU tournament
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 August 2001
Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Youth and Sports, on Tuesday proposed a consultative forum involving all stakeholders on the revised youth policy for comprehensive deliberations before its adoption.
Speaking during a familiarization tour of the National Youth Centre in Accra, the minister said the forum would first be held at the regional level to have the views of every one involved in the youth.
A national forum would then be held before the end of the year.
The Minister assured the youth of his government's preparedness to give them the needed attention in view of the influential role they played in bringing them to power.
He said the youth would be the focus of all policies of his ministry adding that they could not afford to fail them in any way.
Papa Ankomah said not much attention had been directed towards them in the past, adding that this has made them lose trust in the ministry. Now, he said, this was expected to change with the adoption of more result-oriented policies.
He asked the NYC to change its image to win back the confidence of the youth especially those on the street who urgently need their expertise to become productive citizens.
Papa Ankomah said one area that would be important to him would be the scheme of apprenticeship outside the school structure in order to derive maximum benefits with the NYC playing a more important role.
"For us to achieve any result in the goals we have set for ourselves, we need to put in much more than we are doing at the moment with commitment, ability and competence as our key words.
"Positive Change would have to be accompanied by attitudinal change before one can be part of the new vision and strategies to overcome any of our problems."
He said the NYC should be restructured to play the role of facilitators with agencies under it playing a more active role on the field.
Mr Edward Kofi Adomah, Acting National Coordinator of the NYC, said the philosophy of the ruling government is synonymous with the agenda of the council, which is youth empowerment to change their social status to enable them achieve their potentials in life.
He asked the ministry for support to achieve their objectives. He expressed the hope that the board of trustees for the council whose mandate expired in April of this year would soon be reconstituted to facilitate the council's work.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 August 2001
Ben Koufie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) would meet chairmen of premier league clubs on Thursday, August 23 to discuss how best they could assist in the implementation of the programme outlined at the Strategic Planning Workshop, which was held recently.
A statement signed by Mr Kwaku Ampem Darko, Acting General Secretary of the GFA, said the meeting would afford Mr Koufie the opportunity to meet with them for the first time since assuming duty.
The statement said the GFA boss would also meet with the newly appointed Women Football Committees and Colts Clubs Leaders in Accra and Tema on Friday August 24 while coaches take their turn on Monday, August 27.
The statement urged Premier League clubs chairmen to be personally present and not their accredited representatives. Attendance to the other meetings is also strictly by invitation.
GRi…/
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Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) 22 August 2001
The city of Ouagadougou awaits the six-nation club, soccer tournament for women tagged ‘WAFU competition’ which kicks of on Wednesday and includes Ghatel Ladies of Ghana.
An innovation in this tournament is the rule to fine a player who receives a yellow card 5,000 CFA and 20,000 CFA for a red-carded player during the championship.
Ghatel Ladies of Accra, who arrived in Ouaga on Saturday evening could not train the following morning due to four hours of heavy downpour but were however able to go to the pitch the following day, through to Tuesday.
Ghatel have been placed in Group B alongside Black Arrows of Benin and the defending champions Lioness of Mali.
Host team, Princess Ladies of Burkina Faso are in Group A with Senegal Club, La Sirene of Dakar and Mazargue A/C of Togo. Princess play La Sirine of Senegal in the opening game today at 15.30 GMT at the Municipal Stadium while Ghatel Ladies meet Black Arrows of Benin in the second match of the day at 18.00 GMT at the Rene Monory Stadium.
The Ghanaians on arrival on Saturday evening were escorted to the 4th August Stadium where they had the opportunity to witness an FA Cup final between Etoile Filante (EFO) of Ouagadougou and Association Sportive Bobo (ASFB), who lost 3-1 to their opponents.
The Ghanaian delegation were however shocked when they were shown the Stadium dressing room, with 20 small beds as where they and some of their officials were to put up.
The leader of the delegation and GFA member Mr Sylvester Mensah rejected that place and reminded the hosts that they were in an international competition.
It was after the protest that that Madam Karama in consultation with Mr David Sabre, Organising Committee co-chairman, agreed to send the Ghatel contingent to the 2-star Hotel Bangrin, about 300 metres from the Stadium to stay until further notice.
GRi…/
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