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Immediate past Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga has said he is greatly worried that some citizens are trying to run down the country by jubilating over Ghana’s failure to secure the hosting right for the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

“I am concerned about people trying to run down their country and creating an impression that their country is not good,” he lamented on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday.

He argued that the world has confidence in Ghana and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) acknowledged that the nation had the capacity to host the sporting event. 

Mr. Ayariga observed that Ghana is “making progress and people must accept that that is what is happening and I don’t see how you can say that because you haven’t addressed some financial issues,” there is no need to host the 2017 AFCON.

Ghana on Wednesday lost the bid to host the 2017 AFCON; a situation Ghanaians wholeheartedly accepted and jubilated over.

After the Sports Ministry announced last year that it will put in a bid to host the sporting event in 2017, it caused major public uproar as most Ghanaians kicked against the idea.

They cited the current economic crisis which has forced the government to seek financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), coupled with the deepening energy crisis which has adversely affected many sectors of the economy.

Some also kicked against Ghana’s bid because according to them, the 2008 AFCON which was hosted in the country was what led to the dubious payment of the GHC 51 million judgment debt to businessman Alfred Woyome.

However, Ayariga stated that the argument that Ghana is currently experiencing socio-economic challenges therefore it would have been unwise to host the tournament does not hold.

He was of the view that if Ghana was going to undertake any major infrastructural developments to enable the country host the tournament, then “this argument might hold.”

According to him, the nation already has its priorities right in terms of developing infrastructure such as airports, roads, health infrastructure, telecommunication, hotels…”and we made all these presentations to CAF and they agreed…in terms of capacity as a country; we have it and we can do it. I believe that we could have done a very good job if given the opportunity.”

Ghana’s stadia don’t need major renovations

The former Sports Minister further debunked assertions that all the stadia which were constructed prior to the 2008 AFCON are in bad shape and large sums of money would have been needed to undertake extensive renovation.

“I don’t see any serious renovation in any of the stadia. The only stadium we are trying to work on the one in Accra because it’s so close to the sea and that really should be done whether or not we are hosting a tournament.”

He continued saying, “…none of our stadia needs any major rehabilitation and so there is even no issue about that because they [CAF] were clear in their minds that in terms of infrastructure, we have it, we have the capacity but that is not the only consideration so please, let’s separate the issues.”

Ayariga also dismissed media reports that CAF chose Gabon over Ghana due to the mood and views Ghanaians expressed on social media over the matter.