ghana football association ghana's bid...e-mail: [email protected] africa cup of nations (afcon)...

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS (AFCON) 2017

Ghana's Bid

...See You At The Centre Of The Earth

GHANA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

P. O. Box 1272, Accra - Ghana

Tel: +233 302 665570 / 671501 - 2

Fax: +233 302 666697 / 668590

E-mail: [email protected]


President's Statement

“As you are no doubt aware, Ghana hosted the 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations in 2008. Four stadia were built and refurbished in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi. Fourteen (14) training pitches were also made available to ensure a memorable football extravaganza which gave credit to your Confederation. The four city venues now also boost of increased hotel facilities of international standard, improved road and airport infrastructure as well as enhanced telecommunication services that can provide state-of-the-art media support for the events.

“Ghana has first class health facilities at all the venues to cater for CAF as well as the teams and their officials.

“Being the beacon of democracy in Africa, Ghana would ensure that there is adequate security at all centres for the participating countries as well as visitors.

“I wish to assure you that should Ghana be offered yet another unique opportunity of hosting the entire membership of CAF during your Congress (as part of hosting and organizing the AFCON 2017), we would once again work to raise the bar for African Football and showcase the best of Africa to the world.”

GHANA's desire to bid for the rights to host and stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 is influenced not only on the prestige and honour that such an experience will be bringing to our dear nation but particularly because of the numerous opportunities that the competition offers the various participating nations, our host cities, as well as the rest of Africa and the world.

As a people, Ghanaians have always loved to share what we have our hospitality, our experiences, our ambitions, as well as our passions, the greater of which is football.Over the years, one event that has offered us the occasion of exhibiting these inborn characteristics to the rest of the continent is the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. Ghana has had the privilege of hosting this prestigious event three times on our soil in 1965, 1978 and 2008.

However in 2000, Ghana was once again honoured when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) chose nd

Ghana to undertake the first co-hosting of the prestigious event during the 22 edition alongside Nigeria. This was perhaps, in appreciation of the successful manner in which we organised the African Under-20 Youth Football Championship the previous year.

Over the years, the YOUTH all over the world have been acknowledged as an important human resource with the full potential to contribute significantly to national development and therefore must be accorded such recognition and be involved in national development by governments and other stakeholders.

Indeed the new Millennium provides the Youth of the world the opportunity for a new beginning for them to be involved in national development since they are potential leaders of any nation. Admittedly, Youth development however does not occur in a vacuum. The Youth must prepare and be prepared to take up this leadership role.

It is for this reason that Ghana sees annexing the bid to host and organize the AFCON 2017 as more than opportune as it will afford the nation the unique opportunity to see Football and the tournament for its social, cultural, educational and developmental relevance.

It is again our intention to situate the objectives for desiring to win the bid and organizing the competition within our National Youth Policy so as to perpetuate such core values and principles as Teamwork, Good Governance, Respect, Leadership, Rule of Law, Self-Reliance and Patriotism in our youth through Football for our future leaders.

We are therefore, quite ready to stage this unique event which has the potential of providing our Youth with immense opportunities to develop their talents through tournament-related activities as they contribute to national development through football.

There is also no doubt that several other openings exist for us as leaders of our nations to meet often, to have political contacts, and to learn enough about one another's country. Among the generality of our peoples, however, such contacts are rather limited, both in number and in scope; whereas in the real understanding of things it is through the frequent interactions among the peoples themselves that we can attain the oneness, understanding, and unity which are so critical for all of us.

My Government and I, and indeed all sports loving people of Ghana, are looking forward to being awarded the right to host and organize the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017.

H.E. JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMAPRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA

PRESIDENTIAL FOREWORD

Sector Minister

“There is something particularly exciting about the location of Ghana at the centre of the earth and this may explain our peoples' legendary friendliness and hospitality. We have always been a people who delight in sharing our passions the greater of which now is our football. Our tradition of love towards all has been delicately woven into our joy of football, music and dance…and we invite CAF, Africa and the rest of the world to come and enjoy.

“The gathering of the brilliant, talented and dedicated footballers in Ghana will be clear manifestations of our long cherished dream of consolidating the continent's passion football at the centre of the new developmental paradigm to enable it continue to make valuable contributions to improving the well-being of the youth in Africa.

“Africa soccer has truly come of age and it will be a great honour to Ghana to showcase, once again, this important development on our Continent through the organization of the AFCON 2017 Championship.”


GFA President

“Considering Ghana's pedigree for thoroughness in executing a mission such as successful hosting of major football events, including the Africa Cup of Nations (1963, 1978, 2000 jointly with Nigeria and 2008), the SCSA Zone III Football Championship (1986) and the African Youth Football Championship (1999) as well as other sports as the 9th AfHF Hockey Africa Cup for Nations (2009), we intend to leverage our institutional memory and capabilities to use the organization and staging of the AFCON 2017 to further boost and ensure a sustainable, viable LEGACY programme for the country, with greater investments in our youth as future leaders.

“We are more than optimistic that you will find us worthy partners should Ghana be awarded the rights to organize and stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 as your own experiences with our previous capabilities in such endeavours can attest. We therefore look forward to strengthening this partnership into the future.”

HON. MAHAMA

AYARIGA (MP)

MINISTER OF YOUTH

AND SPORTS

Chairman, Ghana 2017 AFCON Bid Committee

“It is worth emphasizing that the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the AFCON 2008 hosted and organized in the country commissioned the Bank of Ghana (BOG) to conduct an Impact Assessment of AFCON 2008 on Ghana's Economy. The Report indicated that the recorded benefits included the legacy of the physical infrastructure comprising the stadia; the renovated and constructed pitches; the UDS Hotel accommodation in Tamale; renovations to the Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale airports; the new Arrival and Departure Hall at the Takoradi Airport ahead of the discovery of oil and gas in the Western Region which still facilitates air travels to and from Takoradi; renovations to various health centres at the four venues Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi and Tamale; general improvements in the hospitality industry; and the spirit of volunteerism rekindled in the youth of the country through the over 15,000 engaged as volunteers for the tournament; and other facilities developed by the private sector.

What we intend to achieve by hosting AFCON 2017 is to build on the legacies of previous tournaments in 1963, 1978, co-hosts in 2000, and 2008 towards enhancing Ghana's position as the preferred sports event destination for Africa.”

ERNEST THOMPSON

CHAIRMAN,

AFCON 2017 BID COMMITTEE

KWASI NYANTAKYI

PRESIDENT, GHANA

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

(GFA)

1. KWASI NYANTAKYI

2. FREDERICK CRENTSIL

3. NII KORMIETE DOKU

4. FELIX ANSONG

5. GEORGE AFRIYIE

6. OSEI TUTU AGYEMANG

7. AUGUSTINE ASANTE

8. M. N. S. DOE

9. KOJO YANKAH

10. ADAM MUNKAILA

11. ALHAJI DAUDA SADUGU

12. MOSES ARMAH

13. RANSFORD ABBEY

14. KWEKU EYIAH

15. KUDJOE FIANOO

16. FREDERICK PAPPOE

17. EMMANUEL KYERE MEH

18. LEANIER ADDY

19. SHIABU ZIDA

20. FRANCIS DOGABTSE

21. WILFRED KWEKU OSEI

22. A. A. LAWAL

1. Ernest Thompson (GFA & also Director General of SSNIT) - Chairman

2. Abedi Pele (Former Black Stars Captain) - Vice Chairman

3. Fred Crentsil (GFA Vice President) - Member

4. Randy Abbey (GFA Executive Committee) - Member

5. Herbert Mensah (Football Administrator / Businessman) - Member

6. Alhaji M. N. D. Jawula (Former GFA President) - Member

7. Nana Brew Butler (Former GFA President) - Member

8. Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe (Former GFA President) - Member

9. Alex K. M. Mould (Chief Executive GNPC) - Member

10. Magnus RexDanquah (Consultant and Sports Business Expert) - Member / Secretary

11. Alhaji Abudulai Yakubu (Chief Director, Ministry of Youth and Sports) - Member

1. STEPHEN LEROY APPIAH

(Ex-Captain of Ghana Black Stars)

2. ANTONY YEBOAH

(Former Player of the

Ghana Black Stars)

3. ANTONY BAFFOE


Ghana Black Stars)

4. IBRAHIM SUNDAY


Ghana Black Stars)

5. ABDUL RAZAK


Ghana Black Stars)

6. AZUMAH NELSON

(Former WBC Featherweight

Champion)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (2014)

GHANA 2017 AFCON BID AMBASSADORS

GHANA 2017 AFCON BID COMMITTEE MEMBERS


WELCOME TO

GHANAhana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It borders Cote Gd'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the

north, Togo to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Accra is the capital and the largest city.

It was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient kingdoms, including an inland kingdom within, the Ashanti, and various Fante states along the coast. Trade with European states flourished after contact with the

thPortuguese in the 15 century, and the British established a crown colony, Gold Coast, in 1874.It was the first black African country to obtain independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation as a reference to its ancient roots in the Empire of Ghana.

Ghana operates a centralized system of political administration with ten regions: Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper West and Upper East and 170 districts. The currency is Ghana Cedis (GH¢) and the exchange rate with US dollar (US$1.00 = GH¢3.50) according to the Bank of Ghana as at September, 2014.


With a young, thriving, stable democracy in a hotbed region, Ghana's involvement in promoting peace and stability in Africa is legendary. Its rapidly growing economy provides countless opportunities for investment and enterprise. Our educational sector is indeed one of the best in Africa, south of the Sahara, and has been directly responsible for the high literacy level of its population in English and other languages.

Ghana is a beautiful country, apart from its abundant sunshine, lovely beaches, a preferred sports tourism destination, spectacular locations, friendly and warm people, the organisation and staging of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 will be yet another opportunity to build on its credentials of using sports and football to facilitate national development and add value to its current events' LEGACY development.

Official language: EnglishCapital: AccraMain Cities: Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale, Cape Coast, Sunyani, Ho, Tema and BolgatangaArea: 239,460 km²Climate: Tropical, warm and comparatively dry along the southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in the north; Ghana is considered a friendly warm and dry all year-round weather, quite reliable and well-suited for outdoor activities such as a soccer tournament.Population: 24,233,431 (2010 Population Census)Principal Cities Population

§ Accra - 3,963,264§ Kumasi - 2,604,909§ Tamale - 360,579§ Sekondi-Takoradi - 360,651

Age Structure: 0-14 years: 38.2%; 15-64 years: 58.2%; 65 years and over: 3.6%Ethnic Groups: Akan 45.3%; Mole-Dagbon 15.2%; Ewe 11.7%; Ga-Dangme 7.3%; Guan 4%; Gurma 3.6%; Grusi 2.6%; Mande-Busanga 1%; other tribes 1.4%; and others 7.8% (2000 Census)Religions: Christian 68.8%; Muslim 15.9%; Traditional 8.5%; Other 0.7%; None 6.1% (2000 Census)Other languages: Asante 14.8%; Ewe 12.7%; Fante 9.9%; Boron (Brong) 4.6%; Dagomba 4.3%; Dangme 4.3%; Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%; Akyem 3.4%;; Ga 3.4%; Akuapem 2.9%; other 36.1% (includes English) (2000 Census)Time Zone: GMTCountry Code: 233


Proposed Tournament Centres

Map of Ghana Showing the Locations of the 4 Stadia

ACCRA

SEKONDI-TAKORADI

SEKONDI-TAKORADI

KUMASI KUMASI

227km

272km

650km

304km

701km 379kmTAMALE TAMALE

The nation's pedigree for thoroughness in executing a mission has been attested over the years.

Ghana has had a chequered history in hosting and organizing major national and international events, including the following:-

· 1963 OAU Heads of States Summit;

· 1965 Africa Cup of Nations Football, using two venues, Accra and Kumasi;

· 1978 Africa Cup of Nations Football, using two venues, Accra and Kumasi;

· 1986 Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone III Football Championship, using two venues and involving eight nations;

· 1998 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Conference;

· 1999 Africa Youth Football Championship, using two venues and involving eight nations;

· 2000 Co-Host of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Football with Nigeria, using two venues and involving eight nations;

· 2007 AU Heads of State Summit;

· 2007 UNCTAD World Conference;

· 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Football, using four venues, Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi and involving sixteen nations; and

· 2009 AfHF Hockey Africa Cup for Nations, using one venue, Accra and involving ten nations.

The case for Ghana's bid for rights to host and organize AFCON 2017 -

§ His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana has, in a thletter dated 18 September, 2014, personally written to the CAF President

confirming Ghana's interest in bidding for the rights to host and organise the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017; and assuring CAF, amongst others of his government's readiness to ensure that there is adequate security at all centres for the participating countries as well as visitors;

§ This is in addition to the government guarantees as contained in the Minister of th

Youth and Sports letter dated 19 September, 2014 in respect of Entry and Departure Visas; work permits for CAF Officials, Players and Officials of nations and media representatives; and publicity free direct TV signals for all matches;

§ Ghana has also invested in retained institutional capacity and personnel who were involved in the management of selected number of international events, particularly the Africa Youth Football Championship, 1999; co-host of Africa Cup of Nations, 2000; and the benchmarking Africa Cup of Nations, 2008; and who will be involved once again in 2017 should Ghana be given the rights. This will save CAF any margins for experimentations than to build on the successes and legacies of these to host the best tournament ever; and

§ General guarantees as contained in Ghana's Bid dossier covering existing but more than adequate accommodation, transportation and hotels facilities, as well as training sites and stadium for the hosting of AFCON 2017 should Ghana be awarded the

thrights - all legacies of hosting and organizing the 26 Africa Cup of Nations in 2008 with additional facilities catering for increased tourists and business inflows.

Ghana As A Host

ERNEST THOMPSON

Mr. ERNEST THOMPSON, Chairman of the AFCON 2017 Ghana Bid Committee, is a former member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) 1997-2000.

He was also Director and Board Secretary of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited, a premier league club (1992-2012).

Mr. Thompson was the Chairman of the Ghana Women Football Team (1997-2000) and an acting Chairman, Legal Committee of the GFA; and a representative of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited (on FIFA Invitation to Switzerland to work with FIFA Solicitors on aftermath of cancellation of 2001 World Club championship.

Mr. Thompson holds an LLB (Hons.) obtained at the University of Ghana, Legon (1976-1979) and BL (Barrister-at-Law) 1979-1981.

In 1990-1991, Mr. Thompson obtained his MBA (Masters in Business Administration) from the University of Wales, Cardiff Business School (Carbs), UK. He also holds a Certificate in Finance, Law, North Western University, Chicago, USA (two modules).

FRED CRENTSIL

Mr. FRED CRENTSIL, the Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Organization Committee of African Nations Championship (CHAN) and also a CAF Match Commissioner.

Mr. Crentsil has also held various football industry positions, including former Chief Executive Officer of Accra Hearts of Oak F/C, the oldest existing football club in Ghana. He was also head of the Women's Football of the GFA and a co-founder and bankroller of St. Mirren Football Club in Ghana.

He was again a member of the 5-man Committee that drafted the Statutes and Regulations of the Ghana Football Association (GFA); and besides these, also a procurement consultant to a British Procurement and Logistics Company based in Folkestone, Kent, UK.

Bid Committee Members

SAMUEL NANA BREW BUTLER

Samuel Nana Brew-Butler a distinguished Ghanaian businessman Entrepreneur with over 36 years experience in Senior Management such as, Chairman of Cenpower Generation Company, Director of Webb Fontaine Ghana, Arab Contractors Ghana.

He was the Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association, for 5 years, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association 1993 1996. He served on the Committees of CAF and FIFA. He is President of Cape Coast Dwarfs Club, President of the Oguaa FIFA Football for Hope Centre Ghana. Council Chairman of University of Cape Coast. Samuel has his education in Business Studies and Management Science from University of North London and University of Kent at Canterbury.

LEPOWURA ALHAJI M. N. D. JAWULA

Lepowura Alhaji M. N. D. Jawula is the Lepowura of the East Gonja traditional area. He is a man of many parts.Some remember him in the area of football when he was a Chairman of the Ghana Football Association.

Others remember him as a Civil Servant in the service in which he rose to the ranks of Chief Director in the Ministry of Harbours and Railways and then Ministry of health.At the academic level, He has passed through several institutions, beginning from the famous Tamale Secondary School where he was a Senior Prefect, to the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana Legon, Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada as well as Ottawa University, also in Canada.

A man of several parts, he began with a BA degree in English and Economics, and ended up with a MastersDegree in African literature and later, a Masters degree in Social Policy. He also holds a Diploma in Public Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

He joined the Civil Service as an Assistant DCE, with a first posting to Yendi in 1976 then to Western Dagomba, Tamale and thereafter to the Northern Region Administration, Tamale. In 1988 he was a Lester Pearson fellow in Carlton University in Ottawa and returned to Ghana in 1989.

Lepowura's biggest move was to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in May 1990 where he eventually became the Director of Administration and indeed served in that Ministry for thirteen (13) years. In 2003 he was posted to the newly created Ministry of Harbours and Railways where he served as Chief Director and thence to the Ministry of Health in 2006 where he was Chief Director and eventually played a political role as Advisor to the Minister and eventually retired in 2009.

Currently the Lepowura is the Executive Director of the Otumfuor centre for Traditional Leadership at the University of Professional Studies, where he leads a syndicate of intellectuals to train traditional leaders in best management and socio-cultural practices.

Still in football he is the Chairman of the revived FA Cup Committee in Ghana. He is also member of the CAF inter club committee which has responsibility for organising the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.


ALHAJI ABUDULAI YAKUBU

Alhaji ABUDULAI YAKUBU is the Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and a member of the AFCON 2017 Ghana Bid Committee.

Alhaji Yakubu was also a member of the Ghana Bid Committee for the 26th Africa Cup of Nations 2008 as well as a member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC).

RANSFORD ABBEY

Mr. RANSFORD ABBEY served as the Spokesman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) 2006-2011 and was Ghana's Team Media Officer at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups as well as AFCON 2008 and 2010.

Mr. Abbey has also chaired the Media and Referees' Committees of the GFA and was the Chairman of the National Olympic Soccer Team (Black Meteors) when it won Ghana's first Gold Medal (Soccer) at the All-Africa games in Maputo in 2011.

He was the Director of Communications of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited from 2002 2007 and was appointed Executive Chairman of KESSBEN F/C Limited, a position he held for 2007 2010.

He is currently President and majority shareholder of Heart of Lions F/C Limited, a Premier Division club in Ghana. Mr. Abbey is an Alumni of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership (GSGL).

MAGNUS REXDANQUAH

Mr. MAGNUS REXDANQUAH is a PR & Marketing consultant; an events architect, planner and manager; and a sports business expert with over 30 years experience.

He chaired the Planning Committee that drafted the Accra Hearts of Oak F/C Constitution of 1988 and organised the Congress to promulgate the Constitution; and currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sekondi Eleven Wise F/C, formed in 1919.

A Sports Consultant to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for over two decades; Magnus was in charge of organizing the SCSA Zone III Football Championship hosted by Ghana in 1986; the Coordinating & Operations Director of the 11th African Youth Football Championship hosted by Ghana in 1999; and the architect of Ghana's bid for the rights to host and organize the 26th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2008 as well as the Chief Operating Officer and Member of the LOC for the event. He was also the Chief Executive Officer for Ghana's hosting and organization of the 9th AfHF African Cup for Nations Hockey Championship in 2009.

RexDanquah is a Member / Secretary of the Ghana 2017 AFCON Bid Committee.



Dr. NYAHO NYAHO-TAMAKLOE

Dr. NYAHO NYAHO-TAMAKLOE, the former Ghana's Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, is a current member of the Board of Directors, Accra Hearts of Oak F/C and a member of the Council of Patrons, the Club's highest decision making body of Hearts of Oak F/C.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe headed a recent Ghana delegation to Switzerland at FIFA Centenary Celebrations and also a member of the GFA delegation to FIFA Meeting in Tunisia in 2004.

He was a member of the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Bid Committee and a former member of CAF Disciplinary and Ethics Committee; and a former Chairman of the Ghana Football Association.

ABEDI AYEW PELE

Abedi Ayew Pele, is a retired Ghanaian footballer who served as captain of the Ghana national team. Having been given the nickname "Pelé" in recognition of his superior ability that evoked comparisons to Brazilian footballer Pelé, he is considered by many African football experts to be the greatest African footballer of all time. He found fame in France's Ligue 1 with Lille OSC and Olympique Marseille.

Three of his sons, Ibrahim, André and Jordan have also become internationals for Ghana; Ibrahim and André were selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while André and Jordan played at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

ALEX K. M. MOULD

Alex Mould is the Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) since 2009 after a stint as the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

Mr. Mould in 1985 served as the Special Assistant to the Director (Marketing) of GNPC for over 8 years. Prior to him joining the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Alex Mould was the Executive Director and Co-Head Wholesale Bank of Standard Charted Bank Ghana from 1999 to 2008.

THE ACCRA STADIUM! The Accra Stadium is one of the oldest stadiums in Africa. Built by the

British Colonial Authority in the 1940's, the facility has played host to several international matches and tournaments including the Africa Cup of Nations.

! In recent history it hosted three tournaments under the auspices of CAF, namely the Africa U-20 Championship in 1999, the Africa Cup of Nations (Co-host with Nigeria) in 2000 and 26th Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana 2008.

! The stadium was recently named after Mr. Ohene Djan, one of the most successful sports administrators in the history of Ghana and under whose tenure Ghana won two of the four Cup of Nations trophies.

Technical information! Capacity 40,000 spectators! Presidential tribune, 250 seats! Renovated private hospitality suites! Press tribune, conference room, TV studio and cafeteria! Field of play in natural grass! Flood lights 1200 Linux! Electronic score board

Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

ACCRA ... As Tournament Headquarters

Accra, the administrative capital of Ghana with a population of 3,963,264, is being proposed as the headquarters of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 as a result of its impressive sporting and hospitality infrastructure as well as its excellent experience in hosting major national and international conventions, diplomatic and sporting events. These include the highly

thacclaimed 26 Cup of Africa Nations Football, thGhana 2008; the 9 AfHF Hockey Africa Cup for

Nations, Ghana 2009 as well as the 2007 UNCTAD and Africa Union (AU) Summits.

Cities...

FACILITIES

The Ohene Djan Stadium, named after one of Ghana's most successful sports administrators, was upgraded in 2007 to a 40,000 all-seated capacity with state-of-the-art facilities including floodlight, corporate boxes, ultra-modern media centre, media tribune and 18-point camera platforms.

Movenpick Hotel, Accra Holiday Inn Hotel, AccraKotoka International Airport

The Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) The Black Star Square, Accra.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum

Often referred to as the twin-city of Ghana and now affectionately called the 'Oil City', Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis is the third largest city in the country with a population of 360,651 and the capital of the Western Region.

The strategic location of its harbor makes it a gateway to Ghana by sea for the Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and other countries on the West African coastline. In addition to being one of the two main seaports facilitating most of the country's exports and imports to the rest of the world, Sekondi-Takoradi is also the headquarters of Ghana's railway system, which links Accra, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi.

FACILITIES

The 20,000 all-seated capacity Sekondi Sports thStadium was constructed in 2007 ahead of the 26

Cup of Africa Nations Football, Ghana 2008 tournament, with state-of-the-art facilities, including floodlights, LED Scoreboard, ultra-modern media centre and 12-point camera platforms.One existing training pitch has been located within a selected senior secondary school: Fijai Secondary School with the other three as part of a community programme for football development within an evolving Legacy Plan and which will be continued under the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 hosting package.

SEKONDI - TAKORADI... As Tournament Centre

SEKONDI SPORTS STADIUM

...Cities

Raybow Hotel Takoradi AirportThe Shama Fort, one of the relics of colonialism in the then Gold Coast.

Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region has a population of 360,579 with a lot of tourist sites in the city itself and the region as a whole. Together with its two neighbouring regions, the Upper West and Upper East, the three regions can boast of the most avid spectators for football in Ghana, having also produced some of the most celebrated national and international footballers and sons in Ghana including Abedi Ayew Pele, Africa's three times Footballer of the Year.

TAMALE... As Tournament Centre

FACILITIES

The 20,000 all-seated capacity Tamale Sports thStadium was constructed in 2007 ahead of the 26

Cup of Africa Nations Football, Ghana 2008 tournament, with state-of-the-art facilities, including floodlights, LED Scoreboard, ultra-modern media centre and 12-point camera platforms.

The existing training pitches have also been located within selected senior high schools: Tamale Secondary School and Northern School of Business and with the third as part of a community programme for football development within an evolving Legacy Plan and which will be continued under the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 hosting package.

TAMALE SPORTS STADIUM

...Cities

Tamale Airport

Tamale Teaching Hospital Mariam Hotel

...CitiesTHE BABA YARA SPORTS STADIUM IN KUMASI

KUMASI... As Tournament Centre

Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana with a population of 2,604,909, is also affectionately called the 'Garden' or 'Cultural' City and traditional capital of Ashanti Region, centrally-placed on the map of Ghana and is the stronghold of the rich Ashanti culture, which visitors to the country have all loved to behold.

The revered tradition and culture is best enshrined in the great Asantehene, the traditional and spiritual head of the Ashanti Region, whilst Kumasi is often described as the hub of sports in the country, hosting a number of football clubs including Asante Kotoko Football Club, Africa's second best club of the century and with the entire population of men, women and children having a

passion for the game of football.

FACILITIES

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium, named after one of Africa's celebrated wingers, was upgraded in 2007 to a 40,000 all-seated capacity with state-of-the-art facilities, including floodlights, ultra-modern media centre and 16-point camera platforms; and witnesses massive crowds for most football matches.

The existing training pitches have been located within selected senior high schools in the metropolis: Prempeh, Opoku Ware, KNUST and Wesley College and all supporting and lending credence to the Legacy strategy for the competition.

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Golden Tulip KumasiKumasi Airport

Where The Fans MeetWhere The Fans Meet

The Future Belongs To The Youth

The Future Belongs To The Youth

ghana football association ghana's bid...e-mail: [email protected] africa cup of nations (afcon)...

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