The president of IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, wants the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to postpone the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament to prevent the further spread of the Ebola virus.
Morocco was expected to host the 2015 AFCON, but it has called for the postponement of the tournament due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease in West Africa which has claimed over 4,500 lives.
South Africa, which were also tipped to host the tournament after Morocco’s refusal, has turned down the offer over similar concerns.
CAF has subsequently written to Ghana to be on standby to host the tournament and Minister of Sports, Mahama Ayariga has told Citi News, the government is evaluating the request because two Ebola-stricken countries – Sierra Leone and Guinea are participating in the event.
Since this announcement, various individuals and groups including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have cautioned the government not to accept the offer because it will endanger the lives and safety of citizens.
Franklin Cudjoe on Eyewitness News questioned why CAF was determined to go through with the tournament while the continent is struggling to contain the Ebola outbreak.
“It is very important that we deal with this matter seriously…Morocco rejected it, South Africa I’m told has also rejected it. Why? Are we special human beings from some other planets? I think CAF itself should just postpone the whole thing, In fact put it on hold,” he remarked.
He argued that a lot of Ghanaians are displeased about government’s intention to consider the offer from CAF, adding that he has every cause to suspect that “even within the government, there are many more people who do not and cannot fathom why we would even entertain the thought of hosting something that other well-organized healthcare systems are running away from.”
“I don’t want to believe that my good friend Ayariga indeed wants to commit Ghana to something that he might later regret. I don’t know what survey he is basing his analysis on but for me clearly speaking this is simply not on,” he fumed.
IMANI has since given government a 24-hour ultimatum to issue a statement to CAF rejecting the offer.
