SPEECH BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS – MR. CHARLES JAMES ARYEH AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE “COWBELL NATIONAL CYCLING TOUR OF GHANA 2011

AT THE MEDIA CENTER, ACCRA SPORTS STADIUM ON FRIDAY 18TH MARCH, 2011

It gives me much pleasure to speak at the momentous launching of this cycling event sponsored by Promasidor Ghana Ltd (producers of Cowbell) dubbed “Cowbell National Cycling Tour of Ghana 2011”. This is indeed an indescribable event in the history of Ghana cycling. Cycling sport, I understand is one of the most disciplined sports in the world with Tour du France ranked as the 3rd most watched sporting event after the Olympic Games and the FIFA world cup. Its economic benefits however, cannot be underestimated.

On behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, I wish to commend Promasidor Ghana Ltd for their colossal investment of GH¢492,500.00 in this tour which promises to be competitive and rewarding. This event has come at the opportune time when my Ministry and the National Sports Council is poised to develop the lesser known sports to explore enormous prospects for youth development in this country. It is a new dawn for Cycling development in Ghana.

In recent years, advanced sporting nations have been making giant strides due to corporate partnership with national sports federations. It is in this direction that the Ministry encourages other companies to adopt one of the other sports under the National Sports Council to enjoy Tax Rebate on their sponsorship and fully develop to an appreciable leverage.

I wish to congratulate the National Sports Council and Ghana Cycling Association for their unrelenting efforts in forging this 3-year partnership with a global company like Promasidor. I am also reliably informed that, Promasidor sponsored the National Cycling Team to participate in the African Continental Cycling Championship held in Kigali, Rwanda last November, without which the Association would have been dismembered from the International Cycling Union (UCI).

I however entreat the parties involved, to fulfill their respective obligations aimed at sustaining this deal. It is my fervent hope that, the partnership brokered today would be maximized at the end of the 3-years and apparently be renewed whiles accruing the full benefits of the sport.

I promise that, my Ministry will continue to support cycling to have a giant leap and stand shoulders high with other big cycling nations. Finally, I wish to encourage the participants of this Tour, most especially the cyclists to exhibit high sense of discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and enjoy the tour to its fullest.

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