Radio sports talk show callers on Kumasi-based Metro FM 94.1 FM on Tuesday exceedingly lavished praise on Honorable minister of Youth and Sports Nii Lantey Vanderpuye hailing the politician as the best minister the sector has seen in recent times and want the National Patriotic Party to maintain the MP for the Odododiodio constituency if it wins the 2016 Ghana elections.
The Ghanaian sports fans phoned in after the minister was interviewed by Frank Owusu Ansah “Franco Nero” on the Black Stars 2018 World Cup qualification tournament and other sports related issues of public interest.
Certain callers made several interesting contributions with some of them rarely calling for the Honorable minister to be maintained as Ghana’s minister of Youth and Sports for long even if the National Patriotic Party (N.P.P) wins the December polls later this year.
A change is government usually has gone with a change in ministerial appointments and positions but some radio callers wants Nii Lante – a known political player in the ruling National Democratic Congress (N.D.C) to continue to lead the sector even if his party loses the December elections.
The minister revealed that he will be leaving for Tamale on Wednesday to start a “Support the Black Stars Again” campaign ahead of the Ghana- Uganda 2018 World Cup qualifier slated for Saturday at the Tamale Sports stadium while also preaching peace to prevail between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association.
“Everything we do is in the interest of the nation. We shall do everything that is right and legal to aid our Black Stars to qualify for the World Cup. We will provide the motivation we need to provide and the team has to do the rest by playing well on the pitch. If you look at the group of Ghana,you will see that is not going to be easy for us. There is Egypt, Uganda and Congo and now everyone has got some strong team but I trust we have the men to qualify us. It is the hope of this government to see Ghana qualify for the World Cup again.” Youth and Sports minister Nii Lantey Vanderpuye said.
Sections of the phone in segment were recorded in the Twi language and transcribed into English below.
Abacha – Sepe Timpom – Kumasi
The minister has really talked well. These are some of the reasons why we like the minister. Look at the work he has been doing. You could see that the minister has no bad intentions about the Black Stars. We will even campaign for the minister to be the sports minister if the NPP wins power. We will campaign for Nana Addo to maintained this minister.
Destiny – Asuoyeboah – Kumasi
I thank the honorable minister for his work. Just like the other callers said, if the N.P.P wins the elections, we will like them to maintain the minister. He is really working for the nation
Michael – Suame – Kumasi
Nii Lante is one of the best sports ministers I have seen in Ghana. He is always thinking about the nation first and that is why I like him.
K.Boadi – Kumasi
For me I do not think the minister should be maintained because he doing less but talking more. He should be doing more. Because I thought the he reduced the Black Stars winning bonus from $10 000 to $5 000 but I heard the players are taking $8 000 now.
Douglas – Sunyani
If the NPP wins the elections and Nana maintains the sports minister, it will be really good because the minister is saving money for the nation.
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