"Blame Prez Mills Should Black Stars Fail To Win Trophy" -- NPP MP

The NPP Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua, Hon. Isaac Asiamah, has criticized President Mills for reshuffling the current Youth and Sports Minister, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo whom the MP described as one of the most hardworking Ministers in President Mills� government. According to Hon. Asiamah, the timing of the reshuffle of the Sports Minister could have negative consequences on the performance of the senior national team, the Black Stars who are working tirelessly to win the 2010 African Nations Cup. "...I'm saying this on authority, that if anything at all, Hon Rashid Pelpuo was bringing stability into that Ministry; that Ministry that has been so controversial, this is a gentleman who is bringing a new image to the ministry and then all of a sudden the Minister is re-shuffled. So is it because we're anti-development, anti-progress that anybody who becomes progressive-minded becomes an enemy of progress? Is it because this gov't doesn't want progress in areas of vital national importance...?" the NPP MP asked. "Should the Black Stars fail to win the trophy," Hon. Asiamah said, "the blame should be put at the doorstep of President Mills." Hon. Asiamah who is also the Minority Ranking Member on Youth and Sports made these remarks in Parliament today, Tuesday, January 26th. The Atwima Mponua MP was contributing to a statement made by Hon. Stephen Ackah, MP for Suaman and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sports, on the brilliant performance of the Black Stars at the on-ongoing African Nations Cup in Angola. Mr Alban S. Bagbin, Majority Leader said the performance of the young players currently in camp of the Stars was a demonstration that they were ever ready to take up the leadership mantle of the team. Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader said playing without most of the key players of the national team and winning two out of three matches was an achievement that deserved commendation from every well meaning Ghanaian. He said the performance of the team was even more commendable when they managed to beat Angola, the host nation who were touted to reach the finals of the competition and hoped that the injured players would recover to form a formidable team for the June 2010 World Cup competition. Hon. Ackah and other members of the House praised the Black Stars for their readiness to die for the nation and urged the public to give the team the necessary moral support.