The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has delivered a humiliating snub to Ade Coker insisting government is in full support of the country’s bid to host to the junior World Cup.
Ghana needs government guarantee to be able to host the U-17 World Cup in 2013 and the Women’s U17 World Cup in 2014 which the country has applied to host.
The strong member of the ruling NDC party rubbished the country’s bid to host to World Cups on Wednesday implying the government is not in support.
But GFA executive committee member George Afriyie insists they discussed the issue with government before applying to host the events.
“We must state categorically we discussed the bid with the sports minister and it was sent to the presidency for approval before we applied,†Afriyie said.
“The government responded positively via the Chief of Staff so Ade Coker does not know what he’s talking about.â€
But Ade Coker, a regional chairman of the NDC party, said government is not interested in the tournament because of a recent stand-off with the GFA.
But Afriyie insists Coker was talking without the knowledge of the country’s president John Atta Mills who this month said that a lot of pronouncements by party supporters on Ghana football has not got his blessing.
“Prof. Mills recently told us that a lot of the pronouncements by certain individuals claiming to speak for government on football is wide off the mark,†Afriyie said.
“The same can be said of this. Coker said this when yesterday we held a meeting with the deputy sports minister about this and the strategy.â€
The GFA recently has difficulties with some members of government which nearly led to an international ban.
The GFA has until 11 February to submit their signed Hosting Agreements, together with their complete Bid Books.
Ghana will know whether it has been granted the rights to host the two tournaments at the beginning of March.