The American Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Gene Cretz paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Elvis Afriyie Ankrah to find out how the two countries could collaborate in the area of youth and sports development.
Mr Cretz commended Hon Ankrah on his appointment as the Minister for Youth and Sports. He stated that the USA has got a number of programmes that they want to reach out to the youth of Ghana to help empower them.
Hon. Ankrah indicated that the government will this year complete the implementation plan for the National Youth Policy to ensure a systematic implementation of the policy. He said that the government has set aside ten million Ghana cedis (GHc 10m) for Youth Jobs and Enterprise Development Fund to help the youth become successful entrepreneurs.
The Minister went further to say that the NDC government is committed to youth empowerment and development and for this reason will be establishing Youth Centres in all the districts to facilitate youth interactions, meetings and cultural programmes to enhance national integration.
On the issue of sports, Hon Ankrah stated that the government would be constructing a modern Gymnasium at Bukom and also sports arena in each district to help promote and develop sports in Ghana. He appealed to the government of the US to support Ghanaian athletes by offering scholarships or sponsorship to them to train in the US ahead of the Olympic Games in BRAZIL.
The Ambassador assured the Minister that the US has a big interest in his sector and very soon his outfit will submit a proposal on youth and sports for his study.
Source: MOYS PR DEPARTMENT (Larry George Botchway)