Government determined to regularize membership with IOC

Accra, Feb. 8, GNA - The Ministry of Youth and Sports has said the government is determined to regularize its membership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after Ghana was recently suspended by the Committee.. Nii Nortey Dua, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said the Sports Regulations Bill, 2011 was on Tuesday, laid before Parliament as a first step, by Stephen Amoanor Kwao, a Minister of State in Charge of Sports. He announced government's intention at the inauguration of the local Organising Committee of the International Cricket Council's Africa Region= al World Club League Division Three T20 to be hosted by Ghana between February 23-28 According to the Minister, the Bill will soon bring to an end the feud at the corridors of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) that led to the suspension of Ghana from the IOC last month.

Nii Nortey Dua said the Bill has also addressed the concerns of the IOC= , hence if it is passed it will provide a lasting solution to the problem. The Deputy Minister said the IOC's suspension of Ghana will soon be a thing of the past since efforts are being made to resolve the issue amicably.

He added that the ongoing participation of Ghana in the Olympic qualifiers and the decision to grant Ghana the hosting rights for the 2011 Edition of the Africa Regional Division Three T20 Cricket Tournament in Accra gives credence to the fact the country was in good relationship and standings with the IOC.

"The relationship is not as bad as people seek to portray because th= e various international bodies have recognized the elections conducted by the various Associations under the National Sports Council. "They are convinced that the elections held by the various Associati= ons were democratically conducted," he stated.

Ghana was last month suspended from the IOC after a long standing dispute at the corridors of the GOC.