The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Joseph Yammin, has indicated that financial challenges were not the motive for the postponement of the National Unity Games because the Chief of Staff had given the green light for monies to be released to organise the Games.
While refuting media reports linking the postponement to financial difficulties faced by the ministry, he stated that the decision to move the games to a later date was due to concerns raised over its timing which could coincide with the verdict of the Supreme Court on the 2012 election petition.
“It is not true that the Games had been postponed due to financial difficulties because the Chief of Staff has given clearance for monies to be released,” he told the Graphic Sports yesterday, adding that they wanted the competition to reflect the theme of the games —Peace, Unity and Development.
The deputy minister explained in an interview that after the postponement various stakeholders, including the Manhyia Palace, needed to be notified, and that they were in talks with them to agree on a new date.
He said September and December were the possible months proposed for the games, but he was optimistic the event would be staged in September and gave an assurance that it would not go beyond this year.
Mr Yammin further noted that the authorities had to consider other issues such as the calendar of the schools, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where the Games are scheduled to be staged, so that the scheduled dates do not interfere with the re-opening date or other games of the university.
On the issue of sponsorship, the deputy minister said it was within the remit of the National Sports Authority who were working on the games, but encouraged corporate bodies and other individuals to take advantage of the huge platform it provided to be part of the Games.
Story: Peter Sarbah/Graphic Sports/Ghana
