Ghana Cycling Federation emails contradict Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif’s claim of failure to submit the required equipment for the All African Games.
An email from the federation shows a request for equipment was sent to the Ministry of Youth and Sports eight months before the games.
This directly debunks the statements made by Minister for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif, who stated that the Federation did not submit a request for equipment to the Ministry and should be solely held responsible for the challenges faced by the cyclists during the competition.
On Sunday, the country’s national cycling champion, Michael Naaba, had to withdraw from the cycling competition due to a faulty bicycle.
Shortly after kickstarting the cycling competition, the tube connected to Naaba’s bike exploded, leading to his withdrawal from the race.
This revelation by the cyclist, along with similar complaints from other cyclists, led to substantial criticism of the Sports Ministry and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the African Games by Ghanaians.
However, in a strong response to this issue, Ghana’s Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, has absolved the ministry and the LOC of any blame for the equipment failure fiasco at the African Games.
Nevertheless, a letter dated July 11, 2023, and seen by Starrfm.com.gh reveals that the Federation listed the required equipment for the games.
In a second letter dated December 12, 2023, the Federation reminded the Ministry of the equipment necessary for training and the competition.
“The Ghana Cycling Federation and its International Federation (UCI) have secured some road bikes that were a factor in our earlier request document.
“We therefore request only some Time Trials bikes, Watt Bike Sprint, and some accessories from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYAS) to assist in the use of the road bikes and the time trial bikes during training and competitions,” reads the reminder letter dated December 15, 2023.
This revelation by the cyclist coupled with similar complaints from other cyclists led to the Sports Ministry and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the African Games being heavily criticised by Ghanaians.
But in a sharp response to this issue, Ghana’s Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, has absorbed the ministry and the LOC of any blame for the equipment failure fiasco at the African Games.
However, in a letter sighted by Starrfm.com.gh dated July 11 2023, the Federation listed a number of equipment they will need for the games.
In the second letter dated December 12, 2023, the Federation further reminded the Ministry of the equipment needed for training and the competition.
“The Ghana Cycling Federation and its International Federation (UCI) have secured some road bikes that were a factor on our earlier request document.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
