The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) will elect new leaders at an Elective Congress on April 26, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Center.
Among other changes, the governing body for Olympic sports in Ghana will see a new President for the first time in eight years. This follows the decision of incumbent Ben Nunoo Mensah not to seek re-election after serving two terms from 2017 to 2025.
Over 30 candidates have filed nominations to contest various positions—from President to board members—in what is anticipated to be a high-stakes election that will determine the leadership of the GOC for the next four years.
However, all eyes will be on the position of President, where Richard Kofi Akpokavie, a seasoned sports administrator and former captain of the national hockey team, will face off against Michael Odum Aggrey, the immediate past President of the Ghana Golf Association.
Akpokavie served as General Secretary of the GOC between 2017 and 2021, before contesting Ben Nunoo Mensah in the 2021 presidential election, where he lost by just seven votes.
Aggrey, on the other hand, is believed to be aligned with Nunoo Mensah’s camp and is expected to receive strong backing.
Nunoo Mensah, whose term officially concludes at the Elective Congress, last week urged delegates to “vote for individuals based on their credibility, integrity, selflessness, as well as their records and achievements.”
There will be 65 votes up for contention in this election. A candidate who secures a simple majority will be declared the winner, particularly in positions like the presidency, where only two candidates are contesting.
Some candidates, however, are already assured of their positions, having run unopposed. According to the GOC constitution, a vote of acclamation is unnecessary in such cases; unopposed candidates are automatically declared winners.
In that regard, Mawuko Afadjinu (1st Vice President), Mr. Frederick Lartey Otu (2nd Vice President), Mr. Bawa Fuseini (Deputy Secretary-General), and Mr. Samuel Tetteh Ayer (Representative of Affiliate Bodies) have secured their respective positions uncontested and now await formal swearing-in.
Several other positions, however, are expected to be hotly contested, including General Secretary and Treasurer.
For General Secretary, Ghana Cycling Chief Mohammed Baadae Sahnoon will go up against Ghana Swimming Secretary Mohammed Muniru Kassim. The race for 3rd Vice President will feature Chef de Mission for the African Games 2023 and Ghana Baseball and Softball President Ernest Danso against Mohammed Mahadi, the immediate past 3rd Vice President and President of the Ghana Fencing Association.
The contest for control over the GOC’s finances is particularly competitive, with five candidates vying for the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer positions.
Ghana Badminton President Evans Yeboah and Ghana Tennis President Isaac Aboagye Duah will contest the Treasurer role, while three candidates—Bernard Quartey from the Ghana Boxing Federation, former NPP Parliamentary candidate for the Odododiodio Constituency and Handball Association President Edward Patrick Nii Lante Bannerman, and Ghana Basketball Federation Treasurer Aurora Commodore-Toppar—are in the running for Assistant Treasurer.
Candidates will also vie for positions as Board Members of the GOC, drawn from Olympic Sports (5 slots), Non-Olympic Sports (1 slot), Affiliate Bodies (1 slot), and Co-opted Members (3 slots).
For Olympic Sports, eight aspirants are competing for five positions. They include Ghana Football Association General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, former Ghana Boxing Federation President George Lamptey, Ghana Swimming President Delphina Quaye, Ghana Squash President Richmond Quarcoo, Albert Kyei Frimpong (Africa Baseball and Softball), Ghana Hockey President and former Ghana Gas CEO Ben Asante, Ghana Volleyball President George Tetteh, and Kamal Sulley (President of the Canoeing and Rowing Association).
The sole Non-Olympic Sports Representative will be chosen between Abdul Hayye Yartey of the Ghana Bodybuilding Association and George Owusu Ansah (Keep Fit Clubs).
The Affiliate Bodies Representative position will go to Samuel Ayer of SESSA, who is unopposed.
Three Co-opted Members will be selected from a pool of eight candidates: Rafatu Inusah (Ghana Rugby), Emmanuel Owusu Ansah (Cricket), Michael Ntow Ayeh (GES), Edwin Amankwah (Armwrestling), Philip Elikem Ameku (Chess), Nathaniel Johnson (Karate), Emmanuel Djani Nikoi (Netball), and Leonard Okyere (Golf).
Meanwhile, a lawsuit is challenging the legitimacy of the delegates representing the Ghana Olympians Association (GOA). The GOA submitted Chris Essilfie and presidential aspirant Richard Akpokavie as its delegates for the upcoming election. However, a letter to the GOC from lawyers representing Emmanuel Tuffour (Koora), Mustapha Ahmed (Zingi), Timothy Hesse (Timo), and John Myles Mills (Babylonia) contests the authority of Andrew Owusu—who, acting as President of GOA, nominated Akpokavie and Essilfie.
The group claims that as legitimate members of the GOA, they do not recall any elections appointing the current executive members, nor do they know how these executives came to represent the GOA within the GOC. They argue that this alleged misrepresentation usurps the rights of Ghanaian Olympians.
They have demanded that the GOC provide, by Thursday, April 24, 2025, the GOA’s constitution and regulations, the basis for recognizing the GOA as a GOC member, and minutes from any GOA meetings or congresses at which executives, including Andrew Owusu, were elected.
The group has warned that failure to comply will lead them to seek an injunction on the electoral process until their concerns are addressed.
Members of the electoral committee for the upcoming GOC elections include, but are not limited to, Peter Zweenes and DCOP Lydia Donkor.
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