GHANA WAS last Thursday suspended from taking part in all competitions organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) such as the 2012 London Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championship.
The IOC announcement was as a result of the undue government interference in the activities of its local body, the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), with two factions each claiming the right to run the GOC. One faction is led by Mr. Benson Tongo Baba and the other by Professor Francis Dodoo.
Investigation conducted by DAILY GUIDE SPORTS revealed that it is about time the government listened to the people of Ghana and ensured that the long awaited Sports Bill which is a new law to replace the SMC 76 Degree, reaches Parliament so that it will be passed, with clauses that would satisfy the requirements of international bodies in charge of sports.
Ghana is still credited with a lot of respect and know-how in sports administration. It is important that the government acts quickly to reverse the situation and save the career of the athletes including the women senior national team, the Black Queens who are presently in Guinea to compete for Olympic Games qualifiers.
Sources close to the Ministry of Youth and Sports indicated that the Sports Bill is yet to be brought to Parliament for amendment and approval after consultation with the local government and stakeholders.
However, IOC officials in their report stated that the country has failed to respect the provisions of the Olympic Charter. It its various discussions with the IOC, government promised to pass a Sports Bill, but failed to fulfill that pledge.
Speaking to the media in Accra yesterday, Mr. B.T. Baba put the blame on government. According to him, the Ministry should have remained neutral in the issue from the onset.
It would be recalled that when the Sports Bill is passed, it would give direction to various associations on how to appoint their own leadership, and seek sponsorship to be able to run the associations.