By Simon Asare, GNA
Accra, May 17, GNA — The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) Ghana have successfully held their Annual General Meeting (AGM), calling on the government to increase investment in non-football sports, as the country prepares for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The AGM brought together heads of various sports federations, athletes’ representatives, and key stakeholders to deliberate on the future of sports in Ghana.
Speaking at the congress, Mr Richard Akpokavie, President of the GOC, advocated for a more equitable allocation of resources to other sporting disciplines aside from football.
He stated that Ghanaian sports could no longer rely on talent alone to compete internationally, stressing the need for structural reforms, improved funding models, and grassroots development.
“We cannot operate in a reactive cycle where we only prepare when a major tournament is six months away,” Mr Akpokavie said.
“This strategic plan is a blueprint for institutional excellence. It is now up to the individual federations to breathe life into it. The GOC will provide support, but the execution lies on your shoulders,” he added.
He urged sports federations to fully implement the GOC’s newly adopted strategic plan or risk falling behind, while assuring them of the committee’s continued support.
Mr Akpokavie also emphasised the need for administrative discipline within the sports sector, directing federations to channel all requests for government support through the National Sports Authority (NSA), the statutory regulator.
He said adherence to the established protocol would enhance accountability and reduce institutional friction when engaging the sector ministry.
Mr Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, reiterated the authority’s role as a partner to federations, calling for strict compliance with the Sports Legislative Instrument.
He also raised concerns over governance challenges within some federations, including swimming, table tennis, and boxing, and said efforts were ongoing to resolve the issues through stakeholder engagement.
The congress, which reviewed the GOC’s activities over the past year, also approved the committee’s financial statements and budget for the upcoming year, expressing confidence in the leadership’s transparency.
Delegates described the meeting as one of the most peaceful and well-organised in recent years, commending the GOC leadership for promoting inclusiveness and dialogue.
Despite celebrating recent international performances, stakeholders said sustained progress would require long-term planning and consistent investment across all sporting disciplines.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Simon Asare