The Ministry of Sports has congratulated the Captain of the Senior National Football Team, the Black Stars’ for his devotion to re-invigorating the advocacy on HIV prevention through the “Protect the Goal Campaign”.
In a short welcome address at the VIP launch at the Kotoka International Airport, Hon. Mahama Ayarigah, the Minister of Sports expressed delight with the level of fervidness which Asamoah Gyan wants to contribute to the attainment of zero infections, through the galvanizing power of football.
He made these comments during Asamoah Gyan’s arrival from a three day HIV/AIDS prevention mission in Malawi.
On his part, Asamoah Gyan, the lead UNAID Sports Celebrity for the “Protect The Goal project” was very impressed with response of the Malawians, recounting that a young man confessed to him that he went for male circumcision after hearing him encourage young people to know their HIV status, the use of condoms and male circumcision.
“…it is amazing to know that in our little way we touch a lot of lives across the continent and I’m happy to have joined in shedding the light in HIV prevention,” Gyan said.
Asamoah Gyan was in Malawi with Steve Bedi, a Ghanaian Jazz saxophonist, who is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the “Protect the Goal Project”.
For the three days in Malawi, Gyan and Bedi have interacted with young people, met the Malawian President Peter Muthairka, who signed the ‘Global Ball’. Steve Bedi and Malawi’s Skeffa Chimoto teamed up for musical shows and on Saturday, the two Ghanaian Ambassadors attended the Stanbic Football cup final game between Silver Strikers and Azam Tigers at the Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.