From Spy Ghana

Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga has given the assurance that the country’s bid to host the 2017 African Cup of Nations’ (AFCON) tournament will not hurt Ghana’s finances.

Mr. Ayariga has setup an 11-member committee to lead the country to bid for the hosting rights after 2008. Many have expressed concern about Ghana’s capacity to host the tournament in the face numerous economic challenges.

But the sector Minister says Ghanaians should stop worrying with the explanation that little will be spent on existing infrastructure which were constructed ahead of the 2008 AFCON which was hosted in Ghana.

He recalled that government pumped a lot of funds into projects construction saying, “the reconstruction of existing stadia for the 2008 AFCON was a major reconstruction so a lot of money went into it but the current rehabilitation doesn’t really require significant amounts of investments so Ghanaians should be rest assured that not that much investment will go into rehabilitating the stadia.”

Ayariga maintained that in terms of infrastructure, “we are okay. There isn’t much investments that need to go from government to host the tournament.”

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