Ghana is expected to make her maiden appearance in the World Islamic Solidarity Games scheduled for Istanbul, Turkey in the year 2021.
The move for this has begun with talks between the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the Islamic community in the Ghana led by His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, the national chief Imam.
The two organisations have agreed to start with the necessary paper [ads1]works that would enable Ghana to become a member of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), organisers of the quadrennial Games.
According to the President of the GOC, Ben Nunoo Mensah, who paid a courtesy call on the Chief Imam last week said the move would enable Ghanaian muslim athletes an opportunity exhibit their talents at the world stage.
He explained that it would also give them another competition to look up to apart from the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games and called on the athletes to start massive preparations and training since Ghana needs to regain her glory days in sports.
On his part, the Chief Imam who was elated with the news commended the GOC President and his executives for coming up with an idea that would help his people.
He said he would treat it with the maximum attention it deserves and makes sure his office do their part for Ghana to be a member of the ISSF so that the athletes can join the Games in 2021.
The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. The Games involve the elite athletes of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Islamic Solidarity Games.
The first event was held in 2005 in Saudi Arabia and there are currently 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Non-Muslim citizens in the member countries are also allowed to take part in the Games.
A second event, originally scheduled to take place in October 2009 in Iran, and later rescheduled for April 2010, was cancelled after a dispute arose between Iran and the Arab World over the use of the term Persian Gulf in logos for the Games, as some countries in the Arab world use the term “Arabian Gulf” to refer to the Persian Gulf.
The latest edition took place in Baku, on May 12–22, 2017.
