Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Vincent Oppong Asamoah says they are not interfering in the affairs of the Ghana Athletics Association after suggesting that Martha Bissah, who failed to attain the qualification mark, should be included in the country’s contingent for the All Africa Games next month in Brazzaville.

This decision has not gone down well with some local athletes who have threatened to withdraw if Bissah is included in the squad. The Ghana Athletics Association have also warned the Sports Ministry over a possible ban form the IAAF if they insist on their request.

However Vincent Oppong in an exclusive chat with Joy Sports says he has been misconstrued.

“It is very unfortunate that people will misunderstood what was communicated, we said she should go there just to be a spectator and not to compete,” said Oppong-Asamoah.

“When Chelsea is playing,their academy boys go there to watch the senior players so if you give her the opportunity to travel with the team, what is wrong with that? We are thinking about the development of that young girl.

“We can’t force her in the team because we all know in Athletics it is your time that qualifies you so how can a Minister say that she should be taken there to compete when we all know she didn’t qualify.”

The All African Games is scheduled to run from the 4th to 19th of September in Congo-Brazzaville.

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