Ghana considering bid for 2018 CHAN
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, has stated that the ministry is still consulting with stakeholders to decide whether to bid for the 2018 CHAN tournament after CAF stripped Kenya of the hosting rights last Saturday.
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According to Mr Asiamah, he believes Ghana has the capacity to host any CAF tournament because of the quality of already-existing stadiums in the country.
"Ghana stands ready to host any CAF-organised tournament or event; the announcement was just made about three days ago and we are in touch with the GFA so we will take a decision.
“We are doing some consultations and we will take a decision," Asiamah told journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration yesterday of the Board of Directors for the National Sports Authority.
"This country is prepared; we have got the capacity to do that. We did it in 2008 and it was marvelously done and recently the WAFU was done fantastically so we have the capacity to do that. This country stands ready.”
Regarding fears that the Accra Sports Stadium will not be ready in time for a potential bid to CAF, the minister said renovation works would begin next month as procurement had already been completed.
"Accra Sports Stadium procurement is almost concluded. By next month work will have to begin at the Accra Sports Stadium. That will not take us more than three or four months to finish because it is going to be done in phases.
"Kumasi is okay; we need to put some few ones in place. Minor renovation works in Tamale; Sekondi will be tackled, Cape Coast is okay, and Obuasi Len Clay could even be used".
The deadline for receipt of applications to host the 2018 CHAN is October 1 and the identity of the bidding countries will be disclosed within a maximum 15 days of the opening of the bidding process.
