Ghana Hosts Sports Confab

Ghana will host an international conference on Sports for Development and Peace (SDP) at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel from Monday, December 3 to Thursday December 6, 2007.

The conference will be the third meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sports for Development and Peace International Working Groups (SDP IWG).

This is the first time the meeting is being held in Africa. New York hosted the first meeting in 2005, while Switzerland hosted the second in 2006.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MoESS) and the SDP IWG Secretariat, the meeting is expected to bring together the various Ministers of Youth and Sports from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America and other distinguished guests including international renowned athletes.

According to a MoESS press release signed by Hon. O.B. Amoah, Deputy Minister, a record 46 governments have confirmed their participation, 25 of the number being first-time attendants.

The SDP IWG is a four-year policy initiative formed to promote sports as a tool for development and the promotion of peace.

The Accra meeting will therefore afford governments the opportunity to showcase their successes using sports as a tool for accelerated development and promoting peace.

It will also be an opportunity for governments attending the meeting to discuss the draft recommendations on the final four-year policy initiative.

The meeting will as well review the final policy before it is presented at the SDP IWG final meeting in 2008 in Beijing, China, ahead of the Olympic Games.

By Pierre Toto