We Have CAF’s Blessings To Host WAFCON — Deputy Sports Minister
The Deputy Minister for Youths and Sports, Mr. Perry Okudzeto, is certain that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is solidly behind Ghana as the nation hosts the 11th Total Women’s African Football Cup of Nations (WAFCON), (2018).
Contrary to media speculations that recent challenges in the football sector may negatively affect the yet-to-happen tournament, Mr. Okudjeto said all doubts must and should be dispelled.
“I want to place on record that Ghana has the full blessing of CAF to host the 2018 women AFCON,” he assured.
Mr. Okudzeto was speaking at the inauguration of the Accra Venue Local Organizing Committee (VLOC), last Thursday.
The 11-member Venue LOC is expected to plan, manage and monitor all activities related to the WAFCON which begins November 17 through to December 1, 2018.
The VLOC would among other things ensure that Accra, one of the host cities for the tournament, has all training pitches and stadia as well as other arrangements completed ahead of the competition.
The Chairperson for the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) which was inaugurated last year, Madam Freda Prempeh said she was confident that the new VLOC would use their expertise to run a successful tournament.
As a country, she said the competition, “is not only going to open up Ghana to other countries as a football nation, but is also going to open up other avenues in the area of tourism, hospitality and economic empowerment.”
She therefore entreated all and sundry to add their quota to ensure that Ghana excels in the tournament.
Mrs. Lucy Quist, Vice President of the Ghana’s Normalization Committee swore the new VLOC into office with a charge to exhibit commitment and willingness to the assignment.
For her, football in Ghana has grown from just being a game to an important part of national development and must therefore be taken seriously.
“Football is extremely developed and it’s time Ghana leverage on it to drive the nation forward. We have the capable hands and minds and it was time we made the outside world see what Ghana is made of,” she said.
VLOC
The VLOC would be chaired by the Deputy Accra Regional Minister, Madam Elizabeth Sackey and would be assisted by Madam Sophia Kokor as vice chairperson.
The members are; Chief Supt. Kwesi Ofori, Dr. Prince David Pambo, Portia Tagoe, Grace Acheampong and Ivy Asamoah.
The rest are, Prince Obeng, Emmanuel Clottey, Benjamin William Graham and Vivian Dougblor.
Venues
The Accra and the Cape Coast stadia have been listed to host all eight participating countries for the tournament.
Four countries would be resident in Accra and would use the Presbyterian Senior High School training pitch and the Elwak Sport Stadium as their training grounds.
The other four countries would lodge in Cape Coast and would use the Robert Mensah and the Paa Kwesi Nduom sports stadia for training.
Referees will however be training at the Legon sports stadium.
By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey
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