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31.07.2009 Sports

What am I hearing?

31.07.2009 LISTEN
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The Ministry of Education's ultimatum to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to exit from the Ringway Estate premises has raised eyebrows in the sporting fraternity.

And if the Education Ministry's threat to the LOC to quit the premises by the end of July is anything to go by, then sports will be the loser at then of the day.

The adage that: “Your failure to present a good case makes it a bad one (paraphrased)”, clearly typifies the stand the Ministry of Education has taken. Revelations are that the Education Ministry has authorized the occupants of the building to quit by the close of today. As if that is not enough, they have instructed the LOC to vacate the premises empty-handed; that is without the chattels belonging to the 'exiting' occupants.

The formation of the LOC for the just-ended AfHF hockey championship went into the annals of hockey as the first ever, and that gladdened the heart of Mr. Oko-Nikoi Dzani who remarked that: “We never dreamt of the formation of an LOC for hockey, the sport has indeed been given a boost.”

The hockey chairman suggested that the permanency of an LOC is a sure way to the successful hosting of tournaments, as well as developing sports in the country.

And true to Mr. Dzani's wise counsel, the ten-day hockey fiesta has been written in gold, not only in Ghana, but in Africa and the World at large, as the best ever hockey tourney to be held in Africa.

Most definitely, the Education Ministry's threat to eject the LOC will foil the efforts of the latter to put finishing touches to their Ghana 2009 hockey success story.

A piqued Bernard Monar, the Deputy Chief Executive of the LOC described the happenings in an interview on Happy FM yesterday as unfortunate. According to Mr. Monar, the LOC need some more time to finish their 'unfinished business', and have the full backing of the Sport Ministry to continue with their good work.

The Education Ministry may have a good case, but their approach of even going to the extent of seeking the help of the National Security and the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) to carry out the ejection exercise is unfortunate.

The Acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Abdul Rashid Pelpuo should intervene as soon as practicable to resolve the issue and allow the LOC concentrate on their work.

Just in....
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