Organisers of the Ghana CAN 2008 have inaugurated two new sub-committees to compliment the activities of the Local Organising Committee. The Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, who inaugurated the two newly formed sub-committees namely the Opening and Closing ceremonies and the Medical and Doping urged them to join forces with other sectors working on the CAN 2008 for the success of the event. He said the LOC had already done a lot on the activities in preparation towards the tournament and tasked them to collaborate with the other committees to achieve the desired results. Mr Amoah said the LOC would be counting on the expertise and initiatives of the Committees to raise the standards and deliver to the admiration and satisfaction of Ghanaians. “Between now and January 2008, we expect you to diligently pursue the activities which will enable you achieve the objectives of Ghana as the host nation,” Mr Amoah said and added that “the inauguration of the two committees to a large extent signifies the nation’s closeness to honouring the pledge and responsibility of hosting Africa’s most coveted sporting event”. Mr Amoah reckoned that the task ahead was enormous and required great dedication and sacrifices to succeed. Dr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the LOC Board admitted that even though the achievements of the Committee may seem little compared to the task ahead, they had helped to underscore several possibilities that lay within reach. “Both committees are integral to the organisation of the tournament and will give further assurances regarding our preparedness and entrench the nation’s ambition to host a fabulous event”. Togbe Afede XIV, Paramount Chief of the Ho Traditional Area is the First Vice Chairman of the 21-member Opening and Closing Ceremonies Committee with Nii Adotey Obuor II, Sempe Mantse as the Second Vice Chairman and Prof J. H. Nketia, University of Ghana – Third Vice Chairman. The Medical/Doping Committee has 11 members with Prof. Agyemang Badu Akosa as the Chairman and Dr Felix Anyah – Holy Trinity Spa and Health farm as the Vice Chairman. The responsibilities of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies Committee are to produce a blue print for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the opening of the Kumasi Baba Yara Sports Stadium among other things while the Medical and Doping Committee is mandated to establish special help desks at all medical institutions nationwide to facilitate speedy delivery of services during the tourney. Source: GNA