Accra, Sep 16 (IANS): Ghana's Minister of Youth and Sports Mahama Ayariga appointed an 11-member committee to work towards securing the right to host the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2017).

Additionally, six former 'Black Stars' players and a former world boxing champion have been appointed to serve as ambassadors during the bidding process, reports Xinhua.

The committee members include Ernest Thompson (chairman), Abedi Ayew Pele, (vice-chairman), Fred Crentsil, Randy Abbey, Herbert Mensah (administrator and businessman), Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, Lepowura Nuru Deen Jawula, and Nana Sam Brew Butler (All former GFA chairmen).

The rest are Alex Mould (CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, GNPC), Rex Danquah, a sports expert who will serve as the secretary and consultant to the committee, and Abdulai Yakubu, chief director of the ministry of Youth and Sports.

The ambassadors are ex-national team players Stephen Leroy Appiah, Tony Yeboah, Tony Baffoe, Ibrahim Sunday, Abdul Razak, and former WBC Featherweight champion Azumah Nelson.

"The committee and ambassadors shall commence work immediately and stand dissolved after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) pronounces on the hosting rights of the AFCON 2017 in January 2015," Ayariga said in a statement.

Libya was billed to host the competition but later withdrew due to the unstable security situation in the north African country.

CAF has opened applications until Tuesday, Sep 30, 2014, and will announce the host in 2015.

If successful, the West African country will be hosting Africa's biggest football tournament for the second time in nine years.

Ghana hosted the 2008 tournament and were placed third. Egypt beat Cameroon to win the coveted trophy.

Morocco will host the next edition of the AFCON in 2015.