Advertisement

 Gov’t committed to clubs’ free COVID-19 testing - Minister
Sports Minister

Gov’t committed to clubs’ free COVID-19 testing - Minister

The Sports Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, says government remains committed to absorb the cost of testing players and officials of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) clubs for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Debunking speculations that the government had reneged on its commitment to offer free testing of the COVID-19 pandemic for players and officials of GPL clubs, Mr Asiamah emphasised that the government’s promise to pick the bills still stands.

“The testing of players and officials of participating clubs of the Ghana Premier League is being performed by the National COVID Team (NCT) who are liaising with the National Sports Authority (NSA) to ensure a fruitful and comprehensive exercise.

“This is ongoing but the concern is about the results of players and officials affected by the exercise who have to be isolated for testing positive. Nobody has complained about the cost of testing,” he explained.

“The government stands committed to protect the citizenry against the COVID-19 pandemic and is, therefore, putting resources in place to make the exercise successful,” Mr Asiamah assured in an exclusive telephone interview with the Graphic Sports.

“The government is taking care of everything. It is not only the free testing of players and officials but also essential items such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been distributed to all clubs and officials to protect them from being infected by the COVID-19 pandemic as they compete for laurels, “ Mr Asiamah disclosed.

Mr Asiamah noted that “prior to the start of the GPL, the government distributed PPEs  to all league centres before the testing, which is being borne by the government, was conducted.

When he was hinted that some Premier League Clubs had decided to seek compensation from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for undertaking their own testing for the COVID 19 pandemic, Mr Asiamah said he was not aware of any such complaint.

“If such a case had come to the office of the FA, the FA president would have informed me immediately,but nothing of that sort had come to my notice,” he stated.

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |