Parliament
praises Kotoko achievement in Africa
Committee
to look into Kumasi disturbances
Parliament
praises Kotoko achievement in Africa
Accra (Greater Accra)
15 November 2002 - Members of Parliament on Thursday extended their congratulations
to Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club for its daring exploits exhibited in this
year's African Cup Winners Cup Competition.
The also commended
Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club for annexing the Premier League trophy for
the sixth consecutive time and on the occasion of their 91st birthday.
Samuel Nkrumah-Gyimah,
Chairman of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture set the tone when he
made a statement in Parliament on Asante Kotoko Football Club's participation
in the 2002 African Cup Winners Cup Competition.
He said the Kotoko
team is presently in Morocco in an attempt to reassert once again they are a
force to reckon with. Nkrumah-Gyimah, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament
for Odotobri said since its baptism in 1935 the team has remained the cornerstone
of Ghana soccer and weathered the storm to achieve the "unthinkable by
bringing the African Championship Cup to Ghana for the first time in 1971 and
again in 1983.
He said the statement
couldn't go without mentioning the father and Chief patron of the team, Otumfuo
Osei-Tutu 11 and recognition of the contributions of all past players, coaches,
management and the supporters.
Nkrumah-Gyimah
appealed to members of the House, individuals, organisations, companies and
Non-governmental organisations to heed the call of the Chief executive of the
Club and come to its aid either in cash or in kind in order to compete in the
two-leg matches.
On behalf of the
Parliamentary Select Committee, he congratulated the club, the playing body,
the technical team, management, the Board, Life Patron and supporters for
reaching the finals of the tournament.
Enoch Teye Mensah,
NDC- Ningo/Prampram said Kotoko's success could be attributed to the spirit of
dedication, discipline and proper planning embarked upon by both management,
playing body and supporters. He therefore, urged the team to surmount all
obstacles that might come their way to triumph over their Moroccan opponents in
both the home and away matches.
Mensah also commended
Accra Hearts of Oak for winning this year's league championship for the sixth
time and on the occasion of their 91st birthday.
Capt Nkrabeah
Effah-Dartey, (rtd) NPP-Berekum congratulated the Kotoko team for reaching the
finals and for showcasing the might of Ghana football and advised them to be
sensitive to ensuring discipline in all their endeavours. He said, he has the
conviction that, come next football season, clubs such as Berekum Arsenals
would annex the league trophy.
Prince Oduro Mensah
NPP-Techiman South said there was the need for the people to take a cue from
what Kotoko has achieved to make it permeate through the social fabric of the
society.
He called on the
Government to take a critical look at the scheme for self-sponsorship of
football by instituting in-built mechanisms to support clubs engaged in
continental competitions with financial aid.
Alhaji MalikAl-hassan
Yakubu, NPP-Yendi said the tenacity of purpose of the Kotoko team was worth
emulating and advised the team to ensure discipline both on and off the field
of play. He commended Real Tamale United (RTU) for their sustained participation
in the league since 1978 and they have not face relegation and prayed that they
would be given the needed financial support to achieve higher laurels.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
15 November 2002 - President J.A. Kufuor today sent a message of goodwill to
members of Asante Kotoko football team now in Morocco for the first leg of this
year's African Cup Winners' Cup Competition.
The message which was
sent on behalf of all Ghanaians expressed the hope that "Asante Kotoko
will put up a historic performance in order to make the second leg a mere
formality." The President wished the team all the best and assured them of
the support and prayers of the entire nation.
GRi…/
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Committee
to look into Kumasi disturbances
Kumasi (Ashanti
Region) 15 November 2002 - Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, on
Wednesday inaugurated a committee of enquiry into the shooting incident in
Kumasi after the Premier league match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Obuasi
Goldfields played at the stadium on 3 November.
The four-member
committee has Mr Justice Baffoe Bonnie, a High Court Judge as chairman and Mr
Opoku Nkansah, Deputy Director, Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC),
secretary.
Other members of the
committee are Nana Adusei Poku, Akyempimhene, representing Otumfuo Osei Tutu
II, Asantehene and Professor C.K. Kankam, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The committee has
three weeks to submit its report and is to examine the circumstances leading to
the incident, the extent of damage and destruction of life and property. It is
to ''look into issues that may be relevant and make recommendations that will
bring understanding and lasting peace between the two football clubs.''
Addressing the
committee, Boafo called on the media to be circumspect in their comments on the
incident. He also appealed to the public to appear before the committee to give
vital evidence that would lead to the apprehension of the culprits.
Boafo said "I
have no doubts in my mind that the members of the committee with their rich
experience and background will bring their experiences to bear on the
committee's investigations." Justice Baffoe Bonnie gave the assurance that
they would work assiduously to win the confidence of the public and urged the
public to cooperate with the committee.
GRi…/
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