ADDRESS BY HON. MUSTAPHA USSIF, MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GHANA OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (GOC) ON MONDAY MARCH 15, 2021
The President of the GOC,
Executive Members of the GOC,
Heads and Representatives of Associations and Federations,
Distinguished Invited Guests,
Candidates contesting in the GOC Elections,
Our friends from the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am excited to be here this morning, and be part of the biggest gathering on the calendar of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
This year’s General Assembly is unique, and even more important, as it as an elective Assembly, which will elect the next set of executives to steer the affairs of the GOC for the next four years.
I couldn’t have been happier to be in the midst of sports stakeholders, especially as this General Assembly follows my assumption of office as the Minister for Youth and Sports.
The GOC, being an important stakeholder and ally in the promotion and development of sports in the country, government is keen on seeing the progress of the GOC, as its success, or otherwise, will have a direct impact on our country’s sports development vision and international image.
And as the National Olympic Committee of Ghana, with the mandate to promote and facilitate our country’s participation in the Olympic Games and other competitions such as the Commonwealth Games, government is even more determined for greeter collaboration with the GOC and other Federations, to ensure the successful realisation of the objectives mentioned earlier.
Whatever we do as government, GOC, Associations or Federations, the ultimate objective for all of us, is to develop our sports and represent our dear country well at international competitions, especially the Olympics, Commonwealth and Africa Games.
Nations are already earnestly preparing for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, and in 2023, Ghana, our dear country, will host the African Games.
These competitions are special, and it is important for all stakeholders to come together and ensure that we take the needed steps to ensure that we reach the desired height for our country in all aspects; preparation, organisation and participation.
What is even more crucial for us, as a nation, is the 2023 Africa Games, which we are hosting. It is a National Project, which all of us must be committed to, to leave a lasting legacy as host nation in terms of organisation of the competition, and the successful participation of our athletes.
On our part as government, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has firmly pledged government’s commitment towards ensuring a successful organisation of the Africa Games.
A successful Africa Games in 2023, also means our athletes in the various sporting disciplines doing very well on home soil. That is why preparation towards achieving that should start now, by going back to the grassroots, to find more talents and prepare them for the task ahead.
The 2023 Africa Games offers our country a unique opportunity to revitalize all aspects of our sports, including development, promotion and active organisation of competitions, especially at the lower levels to unearth more talents.
Strengthening the Inter Schools Games by making it more competitive and exciting, is one of the surest routes towards achieving this, and as sector Minister, I reiterate my commitment to this.
There are other key areas of our sports development, such as funding and infrastructure maintenence, that in the coming few days, I will be engaging stakeholders to share our plans and map out the best way forward.
We can move Ghana sports forward and achieve a lot by coming together and collaborating effectively as stakeholders.
As a key development ally, the GOC, goes to the polls today, I wish you a successful Congress and elections.
I also wish all candidates well, and may the best win so that, together, we can join hands and push Ghana sports forward.
Thank you.
