Minister Visits Ghana Swimmers In Russia

Hon Mustapha Ahmed with the Ghanaian team
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ahmed has visited the Ghana Delegation in Kazan, Russia, where the team is taking part in the World Swimming Championships.

On arrival on August 2, the Minister first met with Team Ghana at the Athletes Village, and told them to work very hard to project the image of the country.

He added that he traveled all the way to Kazan to assure them that the Government and Ghanaians in general were behind them, stressing that gone were the days when footballers were the only athletes who enjoyed all the privileges.

'For me as Sports Minister, all disciplines are the same. We at the Ministry will accord you the same respect and recognition as we do to our footballers at the World Cup. Do your very best to project the image of Ghana at this World Swimming Championships,' he said.

On August 3, Hon Mustapha Ahmed met with the Fina President Dr Julio Maglione, Fina Vice President Husain Musallam, Fina Executive Director Cornel Marculescu and Fina Bereau Member Ben Ekumbo.

Their discussions centered on how Fina, the world's swimming governing body, could help the Ministry of Sports and the Ghana Swimming Association to develop swimming infrastructure in Ghana.

The Fina President welcomed the Sports Minister to Kazan and thanked him for coming all the way from Ghana to support his country's swimmers.

The minister requested Fina's assistance to develop the technical base of the Ghana Swimming Association – a request the Fina President instantly approved.

He told Hon Mustapha Ahmed that they would send lecturers to Ghana in October to train swimming coaches of the country free of charge.

They also agreed that Fina, in partnership with the International Olympic Solidarity and the Government of Ghana, would build a new swimming pool in Ghana.

The minister met with some executive board members of the African Swimming Federation and hinted that Ghana intended to host the next All African Games and would be counting on their support, which they all pledged to give.

The minister later met with the President of the Turkey Swimming Federation and his delegation, and after about 10 minutes of meeting, the Turkey Swimming Federation boss agreed to release his country's new swimming pool in Ankara for Team Ghana towards its preparation for the All African Games in Congo.

The minister had since left Kazan for Ghana.