By Kwame Larweh

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) held its Annual General Assembly on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Theodosia Okoh Jockey Stadium in Accra. The assembly brought together members of the GOC, the Commonwealth Games Association-Ghana, representatives from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and National Sports Authority, among others.

In his report, GOC President Ben Nunoo Mensah reflected on the committee’s accomplishments and challenges over the past year. He highlighted Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games, participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the IOC Competition Manipulation Workshop as significant milestones.

Allocation of Over $803,000 to Support National Federations and Athletes

Mr Nunoo Mensah revealed that it allocated a total of $803,250 to support National Federations and athletes over the past four years.

According to him, the committee provided financial support to various National Federations and athletes through grants and scholarships.

Breaking down the allocations, Mensah disclosed that in 2021, the GOC provided $14,000 to Athletics, $12,760 to Boxing, and $5,040 to Karate-do, among others.

“In 2022, the committee allocated $8,000 to Athletics, $6,000 to Badminton, and $11,830 to Judo, among others; the following year, 2023, saw the GOC providing $3,000 to Athletics, $10,000 to Cycling, and $13,704 to Judo, among others,” he stated.

He added that in 2024, the committee allocated $14,640 to Arm-wrestling, Athletics, Badminton, and other National Federations.

Mr Nunoo-Mensah also revealed that the GOC provided Olympic Solidarity scholarships to several athletes, including Deborah Acquah, Benjamin Kwaku Azamati, and Abdul Wahib Omar, among others.

He said this attests to the GOC’s commitment to supporting the development of sports in Ghana and preparing athletes for international competitions.

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13th African Games Success

Ghana finished sixth on the medal table with a total of 69 medals, comprising 19 gold, 29 silver, and 21 bronze medals from nine disciplines. The GOC provided a total support of $30,000 to National Federations participating in the Games, while ANOCA presented a cheque for $200,000 to support the organization of the Games.

Support for National Federations and Athletes

The GOC extended financial support to National Federations and athletes through various grants. The committee approved a total of $22,572 in team support grants for Football and Volleyball. Additionally, $72,000 was allocated to athletes from various federations, including Athletics, Boxing, Judo, Swimming, Skeleton, and Weightlifting.

OlympAfrica Project Progress

The GOC reported progress on the OlympAfrica Project in Amasaman. The first phase, which is completed of the project valued at $160,799.47, aims to construct a Basketball/Volleyball Court, a Tennis Court, a standard Football Field, and a Multi-purpose Sports Hall. As of January 2025, $79,161 has been spent on completing the first phase of the project.

Future Plans

The GOC outlined its key goals for the upcoming year, including:

• Strengthening Partnerships: Fostering strong relationships with international sports organizations, governments, and corporate partners to secure resources and support for athletes.
• Athlete Development: Prioritizing initiatives that promote athlete development, including training programs, coaching clinics, and competitions.
• Infrastructure Development: Upgrading and developing sports infrastructure to ensure access to training facilities for talented athletes.

He expressed gratitude to the assembly for their dedication and hard work, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to promote the Olympic spirit and advance sports development in Ghana.
The congress brought together members of the GOC, National Federations, and other stakeholders in the sports industry.