Ghana's President John Mahama could not have timed his official visit to the United Kingdom much better, especially at a time when the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Ebola could reach 10,000 cases per week in West Africa if the international community does not step up its response to the deadly virus. President Mahama is in the right place at the right time to grab the headlines and more importantly, more support for Africa to fight ebola if he nails his message just right.

A number of near perfect opportunities will present itself to the Ghanaian President including a Thursday courtesy call on Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London. Queen Elizabeth II, Head of State of the United Kingdom is also the constitutional monarch of fifteen other countries and Head of the Commonwealth, of which Ghana is a member. 

Thursday’s meeting is part of a number of official engagements the President will be undertaking in London this week and includes an address to the All Party Parliamentary Group at the House of Commons on Ebola and Security in the West African Sub-region, in addition to a host of other investment sessions.
 
The most recent alert from the WHO states categorically that the deadly ebola virus is likely to spread geographically if the pace of response and action is not increased. For anyone to suggest that there is fear, a global media frenzy and near panic at the mere mention of ebola would be a huge understatement.

It is now obvious that there is one fact all stakeholders in world football, especially on the African continent have to accept.

The final decision to host the 30th edition of Africa's biggest soccer gathering next January, no longer resides in the domain of the Confederation of African football (CAF), hosts Morocco or standby nations Ghana and South Africa.

 Afcon 2015 is no longer an issue of just a football gathering and for this basic reason, any decision from here onwards would have to involve the key non football stakeholders. It beats the imagination that CAF President Issa Hayatou and his men have not figured this out yet. Running to Ghana and South Africa was the first big mistake made by CAF at a time FIFA is awaiting ''directions'' from the WHO and keenly monitoring European Union and the United States. It begs the question; in whose interest is CAF really looking out for?  

 The argument is not whether or not to host a major sporting event in Africa now or within the next three to six months. It is now all about relevant, accurate and life saving FACTS that can be circulated to the core affected areas as speedily as possible. Ignorance and emotional populist responses to the crisis may potentially have devastating consequences.
 “Ebola is not just a Liberian problem, Ebola is not a Sierra Leonean or a Guinean problem; it is not just a West African problem, Ebola is a problem of the world because it is a disease that knows no boundaries,” Those were the words of the President of Ghana John Mahama when he addressed World leaders at the 69th UN General Assembly in New York a few weeks ago.

The irony that Ghana is now being asked to consider hosting the Afcon in January cannot be lost on President Mahama who would certainly have cautioned his Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga, that any decision on the tournament must be taken beyond an African football perspective but ultimately in Africa's wider best interests.  
This is a perfect opportunity for Ghana to lead the clarion call for more support, logistics and more urgency in dealing with the Ebola menace. A position can be affirmed with a positive response to CAF but under certain conditions favourable to Ghana. 

From all indications, the World Health Organisation's imminent report on Ebola will determine in which direction football in Africa will go for at least the next three months. That report will be handed over to FIFA Chief Medical officer Michel D'Hooghe this week. With the epidemic far from being under control, there is unlikely to be a rush to go ahead with any tournament in Africa, let alone West Africa in the next 90 days. Oddly, the Club Championship is scheduled to take place in December. And guess where? Morocco!

So where does that position Ghana? Realistically and officially, Ghana is still keen to host Afcon 2017 in just over two years from now. It would give the country the necessary time and breathing space to test all technical faculties and facilities earmarked for the continental showpiece.

Just a few weeks ago at the Health Partners Coordinating Committee meeting in Abuja Nigeria,  the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Quedraogo, described the Ebola Virus epidemic as a security issue, saying it is not an issue for one country but a regional concern. Nigeria can also boast  about successfully isolating the virus and literally bringing to zero reports of new infections.

For now, all indicators point to South Africa getting the nod to step in as emergency hosts if Morocco confirm and insist on their stand to Caf for a postponement. The South African option carries less risk and has been proven as was the case for Afcon 2013.

Few would dispute that the South Africans are capable of a robust countdown in 75 days. But is that the priority?
The country's Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbabula has received an identical letter presented to Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi and forwarded to Youth and Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga. Senior government and football   officials in both countries are expected to convene  over this weekend in the hope of taking a final decision.
There is nothing wrong with rousing the rest of the world to sit up and address the issue through the power of football. Indeed, with ebola dominating the global news headlines, Ghana must show wise and strategic leadership and must ONLY accept the condition of a "standby" host of Afcon 2015 as a positive gesture of leadership to draw the rest of the world to invest in the health infrastructure of West Africa.

Another key consideration is that Ghana's President John Mahama is also Ecowas Chair and that means he is not faced with a simple yes or no football decision. That would explain why Ghana has wisely chosen not to scream an outright no. Mahama is in constant touch with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron. 

With a coordinated rather than a singular view of the crisis, any decision on Ebola would certainly need the nod of the big boys in global affairs. Thankfully for the Ghanaian President, they need him as much as he needs them.
 Not surprisingly, the South African media is divided as to which way to go on hosting if Morocco pulls the plug. It is the same vibe in Ghana obviously due to various interests but more importantly the ''fear'' factor. But that will only confuse the ordinary man in the street who must be educated and not bombarded with panic-reportage. What is absolutely clear is that regardless of the arguments for and against hosting Afcon in any country next January, ''global health security'' and not football reasons will determine the final outcome.