Sports Minister confirms Ghana’s interest in hosting CHAN 2018

By Dennis Osei Gyamfi, GNA    

Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - The Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah has opened up on Ghana’s interest in hosting the next edition of the African Nations Champions (CHAN) in 2018.

The tournament has no host after Kenya’s rights was withdrawn by the Confederation of Africa (CAF) Executive Committee meeting in Accra on September 23, due to unpreparedness of Kenya.

The CHAN has barely four months to kick off and reports suggest Ghana would relish a chance to host it in order to gain automatic qualification into the tournament as host nation after being eliminated by Burkina Faso.

The Minister, however, confirmed that discussions are going on with Ghana Football Association (GFA), to consider bidding officially for the hosting right.

“Am still in touch with the GFA, so we will take a decision soon. We are consulting to arrive at something soon,” Asiamah disclosed.

Asiamah was convinced that Ghana had the capacity to host a successful tournament with evidence from previous editions the country has organized, including the just ended WAFU Cup of Nations.

"Ghana stands ready to host any CAF organised tournament. This country is very much prepared, ready and had the capacity to host any CAF event. We did it in 2008, which was marvelously done. Recently the WAFU was also hosted fantastically. So we've got the capacity to host any event from CAF and so we stand ready for it," the Minister said.

He said there are arrangements to start renovation works on the various facilities soon to meet the required standard.

“Procurement for the Accra Sports Stadium is already done and so work will start next month at the stadium. And that won’t take us more than three months to do it. And it will be done in phases. Kumasi is okay, it only needs some few touches and Tamale will also need minor renovation works. With Sekondi we need to tackle the roofing, and Cape Coast is okay. So this tells you we are ever ready to host any event from CAF.”

The CHAN tournament is scheduled to start from January 12 – February 14. Meanwhile Ghana has the right to host the Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in the same year.

GNA

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