The newly-elected President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Ben Nunoo-Mensah, has given the assurance that his administration will create a transparent and accountable GOC, which will involve all stakeholders in sports, working either at the board or sub-committee level, to push Ghana sports forward.
“I promise you principled, selfless, fair and firm leadership. A leader for all sports, a leader who will humbly serve you and not lord over you. A leader who will respect you as well as your views and contributions to the success of Ghana Sports”, Mr Nunoo-Mensah told the Graphic Sports in an interview moments after his election at the Alisa Hotel in Accra last Wednesday.
He mentioned the eight sub-committees as Finance, Olympic Solidarity & Projects, Events & Programmes, Fund-raising/Marketing & Sponsorship, Legal/ Constitutional, Medical, Communication and National Federations Relations, adding that the GOC as a body would be a policy-approving one.
Mr Nunoo Mensah, who was sharing his vision for the GOC during his four-year tenure, reiterated the lack of funding for the development of sports infrastructure, competitions and training for the national teams as one of the main challenges confronting Ghana sports.
He said, “the inability of the least financed sports to lobby the government, Parliament, media and other stakeholders to support issues affecting their development is also another worry”.
Mr Nunoo Mensah further advised stakeholders in sports to stop the politisation of sports, stressing that “sport is the only thing which brings people together and, therefore, the unnecessary political arm-twisting, especially during elections in sports, must be a thing of the past”.
He said he would work with the Ministry of Works and Housing to identify a building to be named an “Olympic House”.
On the development and support for federations and athletes, the GOC President said, “ We are ready to determine how our young athletes will live and achieve their dreams” and promised to liaise with government to ensure that some institutions like the GNPC, GCB, GOIL, ADB, among others, adopted and supported some of the national teams or sports disciplines.
He also gave a hint about the need for the GOC to self-finance its activities, saying his administration would put structures in place to raise a minimum of G¢500, 000 in the first year of his tenure.
“Between Kotoko and Hearts over the years, anytime the two clash Its a clash of titans, spiritual matches, so it tends to be very difficult to predict who is going to win,” President Kufuor said on the sidelines of a courtesy call by the family of the late Sam Arday.
He continued, “But I will tell you on my side I am biased, Kotoko runs in my blood and so, Sunday I expect Kotoko will beat Hearts that’s all”.
Former President Kufuor also weighed-in on the debate about the massive exodus of talents that has plagued the Ghana Premier League over the past decade.
According to him, football is now a product of the global markets so it will be very difficult to stop players from leaving the league for better wages and conditions.
LISTEN to President Kufuor below;
He advised that more focus should be placed on football academies who will produce a constant stream of talents will entice local football fans to visit the various stadiums.
“What we should all appreciate is that now football has become a product of the markets and it’s global, It is the most popular game anywhere and everywhere around the clobe. Look at China now, look at anywhere in Europe even America that has come in a bit late is trying to catch up,” the former President said.
“In Africa, I think its the one game we know and if its market, then its demand and supply. If you are lucky to have, supposed Reverend Osei Kofi was playing today with his talent perhaps he will be measured against Messi, Ronaldo and he will be counting millions of dollars.
“But in his time, he played for the love of the game and unfortunately people of his generation they all ended up not adequately rewarded. So, if we would appreciate soccer is a global market product and we want really to participate in the market then we should groom our youth in football academies.
“The talent I believe is still here, it abounds only we should appreciate that its an economic thing and nobody can reverse it and when we do that then we may have a share of beautiful games here. But if we do not, and individuals are attracted elsewhere then we shouldn’t moan”.
