Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga, don’t you dare!

• Posted on October 20, 2014October 20, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Youths and Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga on 17^th October gladly accepted CAF’s offer that, Ghana should reconsider hosting next year’s Africa cup of Nations after Morocco asked CAF to postpone it.

Ebola is the main reason for Morocco’s decision and as diplomatic as they could be, they couldn’t say “we won’t host it” but politely told CAF to postpone it. The disease which has claimed over 4,500 lives across the world with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia worst affected is now the migraine of every caring government.

I am made to believe the Sports Minister, an influential person in the Mahama led administration only cares about the coffers of the state which rather than the people they are managing. After Morocco threated to pull out, CAF turned to South Africa and Ghana to reconsider hosting it but as at now, South Africa hasn’t come out to accept or reject the offer but the brother of the failed presidential candidate (Hassan Ayariga) in a way best described as emotions not in sync with psychology loudly accepted the offer to host the Africa cup of Nations.

The Sports Minister who knows better than the Ghana Public Health Association who have vehemently opposed to the hosting of this tournament in the country due to the severe implications it could have on the 57-year-old country has been too fast to accept the offer. The one who even appointed him,Prez. Mahama is applauded by United Nations for his fight against Ebola so what is this contradiction in his acceptance?

In his own words, “the ministry working with the GFA can organise a successful nations cup tournament next year.” What is a successful nations cup when after the nations cup the country could be infected with traces of Ebola? What is a successful nations cup when after the tournament the next thing to do is to revamp hospitals to screen innocent Ghanaians? His definition of successful nations cup is what is to be probed for further answers.  The question is, is Ghana resourced enough to counter fight the EVD? Ghana cannot even handle cholera how much more Ebola?

The irony of it is that, the Sports Minister said “it would be too risky hosting such a tournament in the country” and expressed mistrust in pre-existing health and security systems.

CAF, on behalf of discerning www.233times.net Visitors, Ghanaians do not want your offer, go somewhere else and leave us to enjoy the blessing of Ebola-free-Ghana.

Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net)