Accra - Optimism, joy and support regarding the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, abounds from ordinary Ghanaians, delegates to the 9th African Union Heads of State Summit and members of the local media.
Speaking to BuaNews earlier this week, Ghana's Energy Minister Joseph Kofi Adda wished South Africa well for the soccer spectacular set to take place in less than three years time.
"South Africa can do it and Africa will be the greater for it," Minister Adda said on the steps of the State House, Ghana's Parliament.
He also enquired about South Africa's energy situation with Eskom and advised that creative solutions would have to be sought to meet the expected spikes in demand, linked to the games.
Ghana is currently having an energy crisis of its own which Parliamentarians are currently addressing in a series of debates in the House.
"We in Africa know that South Africa will host the best World Cup ever," Thomas Menseh told BuaNews. He is a producer for one of the local satellite channels MetroTV News and has visited South Africa himself several times.
"This is the first time an event like this takes place in Africa so it will not only benefit South Africa. If South Africa can sell the World Cup, then Nigeria can sell it, Ghana can sell it. The whole continent will be seen as an excellent place to invest and host major world events as we have been doing over the years."
Aminah Mohamad, an Ivorian trader who sells fabrics and West African clothing in Osu, Accra told BuaNews that soccer is one of the unifying elements amongst Africans.
"When we come together with soccer, Africans speak the same language, no matter if at home they speak Ga, French, Hausa, Swahili or English," said Ms Mohamad.
"When South Africa hosts the World Cup, it will bring Africans together and show the world that our continent is not about wars and diseases. We have many good things to bring the world."
Ms Mohamad did however, have a few words of warning for South Africa.
"No matter if you're the host country, we are going to win that cup in 2010!"
South Africa, as the host nation, is automatically included in the list of teams to play for the Cup, while other national teams must qualify to secure their place on the roster.
Charles Sam, anchor for Ghana's NewsNite current affairs show also views the games as a golden opportunity to showcase the continent, and said negativity about 2010 is from jealousy, and not from legitimate concerns about South Africa's ability.
"The preparations for this World Cup have been in the pipeline for many years, and anyone who seriously follows football and the news will tell you that the venues will be ready for the Confederations Cup, a whole year before the games," said Mr Sam.
"Worries about the crime situation in South Africa are just from jealousy, and from people who are really clutching at straws. There is crime in New York, there is crime in LA and London, but you don't hear these same people saying those cities cannot host events because of that."
World Cup fixtures will be played in ten stadia across of country, of which half are being renovated to comply with FIFA's requirements and the other half to be built from scratch.
Construction has started on all the five arenas to be newly built.
Renovations to four of the stadiums set to host 2010 fixtures would be complete by December 2008.
These stadiums are Vodacom Park in Mangaung, Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg, Loftus stadium in Pretoria and Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Those who will be completed by October 2009 are Mbombela in Nelspruit, Peter Mokaba (Polokwane), Nelson Mandela Bay, Green Point (Cape Town) Moses Mabhida (Durban) and the Soccer City in Johannesburg.
Speaking to BuaNews earlier this week, Ghana's Energy Minister Joseph Kofi Adda wished South Africa well for the soccer spectacular set to take place in less than three years time.
"South Africa can do it and Africa will be the greater for it," Minister Adda said on the steps of the State House, Ghana's Parliament.
He also enquired about South Africa's energy situation with Eskom and advised that creative solutions would have to be sought to meet the expected spikes in demand, linked to the games.
Ghana is currently having an energy crisis of its own which Parliamentarians are currently addressing in a series of debates in the House.
"We in Africa know that South Africa will host the best World Cup ever," Thomas Menseh told BuaNews. He is a producer for one of the local satellite channels MetroTV News and has visited South Africa himself several times.
"This is the first time an event like this takes place in Africa so it will not only benefit South Africa. If South Africa can sell the World Cup, then Nigeria can sell it, Ghana can sell it. The whole continent will be seen as an excellent place to invest and host major world events as we have been doing over the years."
Aminah Mohamad, an Ivorian trader who sells fabrics and West African clothing in Osu, Accra told BuaNews that soccer is one of the unifying elements amongst Africans.
"When we come together with soccer, Africans speak the same language, no matter if at home they speak Ga, French, Hausa, Swahili or English," said Ms Mohamad.
"When South Africa hosts the World Cup, it will bring Africans together and show the world that our continent is not about wars and diseases. We have many good things to bring the world."
Ms Mohamad did however, have a few words of warning for South Africa.
"No matter if you're the host country, we are going to win that cup in 2010!"
South Africa, as the host nation, is automatically included in the list of teams to play for the Cup, while other national teams must qualify to secure their place on the roster.
Charles Sam, anchor for Ghana's NewsNite current affairs show also views the games as a golden opportunity to showcase the continent, and said negativity about 2010 is from jealousy, and not from legitimate concerns about South Africa's ability.
"The preparations for this World Cup have been in the pipeline for many years, and anyone who seriously follows football and the news will tell you that the venues will be ready for the Confederations Cup, a whole year before the games," said Mr Sam.
"Worries about the crime situation in South Africa are just from jealousy, and from people who are really clutching at straws. There is crime in New York, there is crime in LA and London, but you don't hear these same people saying those cities cannot host events because of that."
World Cup fixtures will be played in ten stadia across of country, of which half are being renovated to comply with FIFA's requirements and the other half to be built from scratch.
Construction has started on all the five arenas to be newly built.
Renovations to four of the stadiums set to host 2010 fixtures would be complete by December 2008.
These stadiums are Vodacom Park in Mangaung, Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg, Loftus stadium in Pretoria and Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Those who will be completed by October 2009 are Mbombela in Nelspruit, Peter Mokaba (Polokwane), Nelson Mandela Bay, Green Point (Cape Town) Moses Mabhida (Durban) and the Soccer City in Johannesburg.
- Lavinia Mahlangu BuaNews
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