<<Print>>

The attention of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has been drawn to an interview granted to the Joy FM by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mahama Ayariga stating that Ghana was ready to host AFCON 2015 after the original host country had stood down. Morocco decided to forgo their right to host the tournament after CAF had refused their request to postpone the tournament which is scheduled for January 2015 as a result of the current Ebola outbreak in some countries in West Africa. South Africa has also turned down the offer to host the game in the supreme interest of their cherished citizens. The GPCC is wondering what went into arriving at that crucial decision less that 24 hours after CAF's announcement. Our surprise is based on the fact that our country is still struggling to come out of our financial challenges due to our huge budget deficit that has fueled increasing inflation and its attendant high cost of living for the general populace. We also wish to query whether the Ghana Health Service was involved in taking this major decision in view of the raging Ebola outbreak in our sister countries in the West Africa subregion. Considering the fact that teams from these countries that qualify will travel to Ghana with their teeming supporters, are we ready as a country to screen all these people and thereby prevent entry of people possibly carrying the Ebola virus from our country? The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council wishes to call on the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association not to entertain this idea for the sake of our hounourable countrymen and women who have been praying and going all lengths to keep themselves free from the Ebola virus and to make a hard earned living. As a nation and Government, we should not sacrifice the collective interest of our people for the game of football. Like Morocco and South Africa, we should also request a postponement of the competition till we have overcome this deadly enemy that is a threat to our survival. In the midst of this deadly threat, even the developed nations like the US, UK, Germany and others, are putting in measures to curb the spread and how much more those nations like ours who are within the threat environment. We cannot deliberately invite Ebola for economic gain. Samuel Yaw Antwi (Apostle) General Secretary For the National Executive Council