PRESS STATEMENT

RE: GHANA’S LOC ACCUSES FIFA LIAISON TEAM OF SABOTAGE

The FIFA/CAF Liaison Team’s attention has been drawn to publications by some media outlets accusing the Liaison Team of sabotaging the activities of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) set up by the Sports Ministry to supervise the successful hosting of the 2018 African Women’s championship.

The said media Publications blame the Head of the Liaison Team, Dr. Kofi Amoah, for hijacking the LOC. The claims further suggest that the Liaison Team on its own has written to CAF to inform the Continent’s football governing body of Ghana’s unreadiness to host the 2018 African Women’s Championship.

We wish to state unambiguously that the said publications are a falsification of the bare facts.

FACTS:
The Liaison team wrote to CAF on the 14th of July, 2018 under the instruction of the Minister for Youth and Sports to reassure Ghana’s preparedness to host the event by way of informing them that in the event the Accra Sports Stadium renovation works delay, Ghana has alternatives in the Kumasi and Aliu Mahama Sports Stadia to host the biannual event. It is important to note that while the renovation of the Accra Sports Stadium is progressing steadily, quality and value for money must not be compromised.

Indeed, Ghana is not bereft of facilities to host the women’s AFCON. In 2017, Ghana successfully hosted a 16-nation tournament in Cape Coast (WAFU 2017).This goes to confirm that Ghana is capable of hosting the upcoming Women’s Championship which is an 8-nation tournament. Aside Accra, Ghana has alternatives in Cape Coast, Aliu Mahama, Kumasi and Obuasi stadia to host the 2018 African Women’s Championship.

Whilst entreating Ghanaians to treat these negative publications by some media outlets with contempt, we would also like to assure the general public that the Liaison Team has an excellent working relationship with the Youth and Sports Ministry and the LOC.

We are focused on our core mandate, and will not be unsettled by any such negative publications.

SIGNED
DAN KWAKU YEBOAH
SPOKESPERSON (FIFA/CAF LIAISON TEAM)