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 |
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