Hooligans attack Sports Minister
…over transfer of directors
By Simmons Yussif Kewura
Hon. Akua Dansua, Minister of Sports
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Akua Sena Dansua was nearly attacked by a group of hooligans, when she took her turn at the meet the press series in Accra, yesterday. The hooligans, mainly from one of the national teams’ supporters unions, were shouting on top of their voice, and describing the Minister’s decision to transfer some directors at the Sports Ministry as mere bluff.
They shouted at the Minister that “you must go instead of the directors, you don’t know anything, and must leave the ministry in peace.”
The embarrassing spectacle started when the Minister responded to a question from the media about the alleged transfer of some two directors at the ministry. In answering the question, Hon. Akua Dansua said the impending transfer of the directors was an action not limited to the Youth and Sports Ministry alone, but to all the other ministries. She then went ahead to show the media letters that supported the impending transfer, which directed that there was going to be general transfer across board.
Following the agitations by the disgruntled hooligans, who did not take kindly to the Minister’s response, the Information Minister, Hon John Akologo Tiah, who also doubled as the chairman for the occasion had to intervene, reminding them that the programme was meant for the press, and if any member of the general public at the programme misbehaves, the law would take its course.
Minutes after his intervention, the security personnel flushed out the protestors from the venue of the press conference. While they were been sent away, they continued to caution the minister not to make any attempt to transfer any director at the ministry.
The minister reiterated that the other directors at the various ministries, who would be transferred, were also Ghanaians, and she does not see the reason why the fate of the two affected directors at the sports ministry should be singled out as politically motivated.
Another football enthusiast, Araba Tagoe, an executive member of relegated Sekondi Hassacas, also created a scene at the press conference when she charged on two journalists for taking photographs of her.
She insisted on collecting their cameras, including a reporter from the Daily Guide, Charles Takyi Boadu, for inspection, which they declined.
On the National Youth employment Programme, Minister Akua Dansua disclosed that at the close of December 2008, the NYEP owed the Agriculture Development Bank an amount of GH¢17 million, and five months unpaid beneficiaries’ allowance, which she said has culminated to GH¢23 million owed ADB.
To ensure effective running of the programme, the sector Minister said the government’s 2009 budget and policy statement, which envisages the promotion and creation of productive employment opportunities in all sectors, the NYEP is shifting its focus from the traditional youth in security, health extension and community education teaching assistants modules that place a lot of financial burden on government pay roll, to self-employment modules which have the capacity in engaging more youth.
According to her, the youth in agri-business, mining and aforestation would derive the maximum benefits from the new modules. She also disclosed that a separate unit has been created to address unemployment among people with disabilities.
Hon. Dansua hinted that a new bill that would seek better funding for the Scheme is currently before cabinet.
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