Report By GOC / CGA President At 2023 Congress

Report By President Of The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) / Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) Ben Nunoo Mensah At The Annual General Assembly (AGM) On Saturday 29th April 2023 At The National Hockey Stadium, Accra.

Members of the Ghana Olympic Committee/ Commonwealth Games Association

Representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) and the National Sports Authority (NSA)

National Federation Heads and Representatives

Delegates

Members of the media

Ladies and Gentlemen

In December 2022, we gathered as a family to discuss and deliberate on issues with regards to the development of our sports, four (4) months down the line, here we are again to plan, firm up and even add on to our success story.

OLYMPIC HOUSE

Following up on a request made by the GOC/CGA Board during our meeting with His Excellency, the President of the Republic. The current building housing the offices of the GOC/CGA and other State organizations has finally been officially been named the “Olympic House” by the Ministry of Works and Housing (MWH), after making that promise in 2009.

The MWH has also engaged the services of a facility Manager, Messrs K and Associates, who are now managing the facility and on request from the Ministry have been given temporal office space at the GOC offices to facilitate their work.

OLYMPAFRICA PROJECT (AMASAMAN)

As I stated in the last report to congress, the Five-man Committee put together to see the development of the Amasaman project, started work in earnest in December of 2022 in order to beat the deadline by which the $100,000.00 sent to the GOC would have been withdrawn by the OlympAfrica Foundation.

The Architectural drawings for the project has been done and paid for and so far the Football field with a basic running tracks around it has been completed, the Tennis court and also the multi-purpose court are about 40% completed.

An amount of about $50,000.00 has so far been spent on the project and as per the nature of the OlympAfrica funding, the GOC must also raise about 30% of its own funding to supplement the funds from the OAF and I hope the committee members will also work on getting additional sponsors for the project.

I will ask the Chairman of the Committee to give members a full and detailed report just after my presentation.

STRATEGIC PLAN

The GOC/CGA is currently engaging the service of various resource persons, experts and the IOC to add on to the draft and come up with a very comprehensive strategic plan for the organization and it is my believe that before our next General assembly in 2024, it will be shared with all members for their inputs.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

As requested at the last General Assembly, the Board has sorted and received the consent of two (2) persons namely Hon. Ken Dzirasah and Mr. Peter Zwennes to be members of the Constitutional Review Committee and it is my hope that Congress can now move ahead with the inauguration and the necessary Terms and References for their work to start.

ASAFA POWELL VISIT

As mentioned in my report to Congress in 2020, Jamaican International Sports icon, Asafa Powel finally came to Ghana at the invitation of the GOC from the 1st to the 8th of March 2023.

Whilst here, he engaged and met with children from some of our Basic Schools, in the less endowed communities to encourage them to keep working hard, since he very much comes from a similar background.

He also made a strong case for support from government and sponsors for our so-call least financed sports.

It was a very successful trip and we look forward to working with him on the African Games 2023.

VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL GAMES

The GOC/CGA is working with the International Games and Competition Committee (IGCC) of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) to ensure that Ghana is represented at all the upcoming International games.

This collaboration with the ministry has been very successful so far and it is our hope that it will eventually reflect in a massive improvement in the numbers and quality of Team Ghana’s participation at these events.

The Africa Beach Games, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the African Games and the Olympic Games in 2024 are the immediate games of concern and we hope the various CDMs and their working team will ensure that our timelines are met and work together with the IGCC of the MOYS on securing funding and sponsorship for our preparation and participation at these games.

SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL FEDERTIONS AND ATHLETES

Continental and National grants and or funding from the IOC are given out on quadrennial (Olympic Year) basis that is, four (4) years.

In the last quadrennial that is 2016-2020 Olympic year, the GOC in addition to our financial support for the Bahamas 2017 Games, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Cape Verde Beach Games Covid relief and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the GOC also within the quadrennial supported the various National Federations with various amounts of funding which was disbursed in 2 tranches in 2017 and 2019.

In the first tranche a total amount of $150,000.00 was given to federations to help them with their various qualifiers and programs for 2017, the amount varied from $20,000.00 to $1,000.00 per federation.

The second tranche of an amount of $126,716.00 was also disbursed to 19 National Federations in addition to scholarships to 14 National Team Athletes.

In the current quadrennial 2021-2024 (not 2020-2024 due to covid), the GOC has so far secured scholarships for 10 National Team Athletes, also secured a $100,000.00 under the Continental Athlete Support grant which is spread over the period 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Federations who have or are due for funding based on their applications, activities previous support under the various program of the OS. The Beneficiary Federations are;

YEAR                  FEDERATION     AMOUNT ($)

2022  GHANA JUDO ASSOCIATION     11,830.00

          GHANA WEIGHTLIFTING      2,230.00

          GOLF ASSOCIATION     5,557.00

          GHANA SWIMMING ASSOCIATION     8,250.00

          HANDBALL ASSOCIATION OF GHANA     6,407.00

2023  GHANA FENCING ASSOCIATION     10,000.00

          TRIATHLON FEDERATION     2,000.00

          BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION     8,000.00

          BASEBALL & SOFTBALL FEDERATION     5,000.00

2024  NOT ALLOCATED     

We also have approval for an amount of $25,000.00 each year until 2024 under the Youth Athlete Development grant and disbursement so far is as follows;

YEAR FEDERATION         AMOUNT ($)

2022  GHANA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION             6,250.00

          GHANA KARATE DO FEDERATION     2,500.00

          TENNIS FEDERATION     10,000.00

2023  GHANA ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION     8,000.00

          GHANA CYCLING FEDERATION     10,000.00

          NETBALL FEDERATION     5,000.00

          GHANA BOXING FEDERATION     10,000.00

          GHANA BADMINTON ASSOCIATION     6,000.00

2024  NOT ALLOCATED     

Our disbursement for 2023 is yet to be made due to the fact that some federations who received funding in 2022 are yet to furnish us with their receipts, financial and technical reports in order for us to forward same to Olympic Solidarity.

I hope these federations will now respond to our several reminders and do the needful to enable us receive our 2023 funding as well as the 25% balance due on the 2022 fundings.

CONCLUSION

On behalf of the Executive Board, I wish to thank members of congress especially, the Federation Heads for their huge support to their athletes and Team Ghana. I hope we will continue to work together to help our youth to live their dreams and create a meaningful future for themselves.

Thank you.