By Michael Oti Adjei BBC Sport, Accra

The Accra stadium is aiming to host the 2008 Nations Cup

Ghana is stepping up its attempts to host the 2008 Nations Cup as the official deadline for the submission of bids approaches.

African football's governing body, Caf, has set 30 November as the deadline for bids to be submitted from countries interested in staging the 2008 Nations Cup.

Algeria and Ethiopia are the two other countries who have expressed an interest in hosting the championships, but the Ghanaians believe there are reasons why these countries shouldn't be awarded the competition.

"The next two Nations Cups, in 2004 and 2006, are due to take place in North Africa so that region shouldn't host the event three times in the succession," Sports Minister Kwadwo Baah Wiredu told the BBC Sport website.

"Ghana and West Africa deserves it."

In order to boost their chances, the Ghanaian govenment have set up several bodies charged with running a succesful campaign, including a fifteen-member bid committee chaired by private businessman Kofi Amoah.

Ghana's vice-president Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who is playing a lead role in the bid process, says the country's decision to bid for the cup could mark a turnaround in its efforts to regain a place as a major force in the African game.

Ghana currently has just three international-standard stadiums - in Accra, Kumasi and Obuasi - and these would not be enough to stage the 16-nation competition.

Yet the government says it will guarantee the funds needed to construct at least two new stadiums, in both the north and west of Ghana, for the championships.

Ghana agreed to co-host the 2000 Nations Cup with Nigeria at short notice after Caf decided that Zimbabwe couldn't host the event.

Caf's 13-member executive council will announce the winning bid next year.