GOC elections slated for April 26: Key details you should know
The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) is set to elect a new leadership on April 26, 2025, during an Elective Congress at the Accra International Conference Center.
This year’s election marks a turning point, as the GOC prepares to welcome a new president for the first time in eight years. Incumbent Ben Nunoo Mensah, who has led the organization since 2017, is stepping down after serving two terms.
More than 30 aspirants have submitted nominations to contest positions ranging from President to Board Members, making this one of the most closely watched elections in recent GOC history.
Presidential showdown
All attention will be on the presidential race between Richard Kofi Akpokavie, a former GOC General Secretary and hockey national team captain, and Michael Odum Aggrey, the immediate past President of the Ghana Golf Association. Akpokavie narrowly lost to Nunoo Mensah in 2021, while Aggrey is seen as a favorite among the outgoing leadership’s allies.
Nunoo Mensah, ahead of the polls, encouraged delegates to vote based on “credibility, integrity, and track record.”
Unopposed Candidates
Some aspirants will be declared winners unopposed, according to GOC rules. These include:
- Mawuko Afadjinu – 1st Vice President
- Frederick Lartey Otu – 2nd Vice President
- Bawa Fuseini – Deputy Secretary-General
- Samuel Tetteh Ayer – Representative of Affiliate Bodies
These individuals are awaiting formal swearing-in.
Hot contests ahead
Several other roles will be fiercely contested:
- General Secretary: Mohammed Baadae Sahnoon (Ghana Cycling) vs. Mohammed Muniru Kassim (Ghana Swimming)
- 3rd Vice President: Ernest Danso (Chef de Mission, African Games 2023) vs. Mohammed Mahadi (Immediate past 3rd VP)
- Treasurer: Evans Yeboah (Ghana Badminton) vs. Isaac Aboagye Duah (Ghana Tennis)
- Assistant Treasurer: Bernard Quartey (Boxing), Edward Patrick Nii Lante Bannerman (Handball), and Aurora Commodore-Toppar (Basketball)
Board member elections
Vacancies exist across various categories:
- Olympic Sports (5 slots): 8 candidates including GFA’s Prosper Harrison Addo, Ghana Hockey President Ben Asante, and Delphina Quaye of Swimming
- Non-Olympic Sports (1 slot): Abdul Hayye Yartey (Bodybuilding) vs. George Owusu Ansah (Keep Fit Clubs)
- Affiliate Bodies (1 slot): Samuel Ayer (Unopposed)
- Co-opted Members (3 slots): 8 contestants including Rafatu Inusah (Rugby), Edwin Amankwah (Armwrestling), and Philip Elikem Ameku (Chess)
The Electoral Committee overseeing the elections includes Peter Zweenes and DCOP Lydia Donkor among others, with voting rights extended to 65 delegates. A simple majority will decide winners in each category.
This high-stakes election could usher in a new era for Olympic sports in Ghana, with leadership that will steer the GOC through the next Olympic cycle and beyond.
Source: 3news