The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif on Thursday March 10, 2022 received the Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E Ali Redjel in his office to discuss issues of mutual benefit to their respective countries in the area of sports development.
Welcoming the Ambassador, the Minister reiterated Ghana’s long-standing relationship with the people of Algeria and expressed his commitment to further enhance the good relationship that exists between them through various initiatives in sports.
He called on the Ambassador to support the organisation to host the 2023 African Games in Accra with sports equipment and training Programmes to enhance the quality of the Games to ensure successful hosting.
According to the Minister, Ghana had the opportunity to host the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2008 which was only in a single discipline.
He noted that the African Games will feature about 25 sporting disciplines making it a huge task to deliver one of the best games ever organized on the continent adding that alot of investment has been committed into infrastructure and other logistics to make it successful.
He said the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the African Games is in the process of upgrading the University of Ghana stadium and renovating the University of Ghana hostel to 5- star to accommodate the athletes.
He revealed that contractors are currently on site at the Olympic Village in Borteyman working on a new aquatic Centre with a 10- lane swimming pool with 2 new multi purpose halls for basketball, boxing and badminton just to mention a few.
He further noted that the facilities will be converted into a University of sports for development after the Games which will serve as a legacy for H.E the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
He promised to reciprocate the visit to cement the cordial relationship between them to further share ideas as far as sports development is concerned.
On his part, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Minister and noted that his country will be well represented with a huge delegation at the 2023 African Games.
He informed the Minister of preparations to host this year’s Mediterranean Games in Algeria between June and July adding that it was important to share ideas and experiences on the organisation of Games to make it successful.
He stressed the need to organise exchange training courses to enhance the capacity of sports men and women in their respective countries.
They both expressed their commitment to revive a bilateral relations agreement signed between the two parties in 2018 for cooperation in the field of sports which sought to promote and develop the friendship through exchanges of sports programmes for the people of both countries.
Present at the meeting included the Director of F&A, Mr Harrison Sasu, Director of HR, Mr Eric Mensah Bonsu, Director of PPMBE, Mr Issah Mahami, Deputy Director of RSIM, Mr Samuel Korsah, Deputy Director of HR, Ms Francisca Atuluk, PRO, Mr Kenneth Annang and head of protocol, Mrs Dina Boateng.
