Ahead of the crucial 13th African Games in Ghana in March next year, the Local Organizing committee (LOC) has unveiled plans to massively brand the nation’s Capital, Accra to promote patronage of the event.
This was announced at a press soirée organised by the LOC at its Secretariat at Abelemkpe over the weekend.
Addressing journalists at the event, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the LOC, Mr Reks Brobby, emphasized the need to brand some vantage points in Accra to whip up publicity for the Games.
This, according to him, will not only help create public awareness but also woo potential sponsors for the Games.
“The LOC has embarked upon a vigorous semiotic campaign to increase visibility. We have already started branding Accra.
Branding at the Kotoka International Airport is already underway.
“The airport branding will alert our brothers in the Diaspora and Ghanaians abroad who usually visit home of our preparedness to host the rest of Africa,” Mr Reks Brobby indicated.
He further enumerated the vantages places within Accra currently undergoing branding.
“We started from King Tackie Tawiah to Aburi, King Tackie Tawiah to Kasoa. We are doing King Tackie Tawiah to Osu High street and King Tackie Tawiah to Teshie,” he added.
The Chairman of the LOC Media Sub Committee, Mr Dan Kwaku Yeboah, said the Local Organizing committee has had an excellent relationship with the media.
He enumerated some of the media activities undertaken so far by the LOC.
“The LOC embarked on a media tour both in Accra and Kumasi and had very fruitful stakeholder engagements with the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG).
“We have a very functional website with multiple languages to meet the African Union’s requirement, as well as official social media pages of the LOC.
“Additionally, the LOC has introduced a Newsletter and we are also working on signing a memorandum of understanding with the various radio stations and online portals across the country as media partners,” Dan Kwaku Yeboah concluded.
The Executive Chairman of the LOC, Dr Kwaku Fosu-Asare, implored the media to project the Games in a positive light.
He seized the opportunity to thank Government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their unwavering commitment towards hosting a successful African Games.
Some members of the LOC namely Mr Sampson Dean, Head of Transport; Dr. Beatrice Dwumfour Williams who is in charge of Anti-doping, Mr Halid Osman Ahmed responsible for Security, Dr. Kwame Baah Nuako in charge of Marketing, and Madam Joyce Datsa who heads Accommodation and Logistics, Mr. Ernest Danso, the Chef du Mission for Team Ghana, also took turns to address the media.
The Chief Operating officer of the LOC, Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah and a member of the LOC, Mr Kwesi Mantey, also answered some questions from the media.
Vice President of SWAG, Mr Charles Osei Asibey; astute journalist, Mr Karl Tuffour; and some members of the LOC Media Sub Committee, Mr Maurice Quansah and Roselind Amoh (Master of Ceremony) were also in attendance.