Government to resolve Ghana Olympic Committee's impasse

Accra, Dec. 9, GNA - Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdul Rashid Pelpuo says government is working to resolve the power impasse bedevilling the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).

The Minister said the old and new executives of the GOC would therefore be expected to collaborate to ensure a successful election that would place Ghana at the right position in conformity with international regulations.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ordered for fresh elections of the GOC within six months after a critical review of issues engulfing the Association and the Minister says his outfit is committed to that.

Mr Pelpuo told GNA Sports after a media briefing in Accra on Wednesday that "we recognise the worth of GOC and we are working to resolve the impasse and elect a credible GOC through the organization of election."

Unwilling to commit to the specific date for the re-election, the Minister said the GOC will liaise with the National Sports Council (NSC) to decide a suitable date. The media session was organised to give a brief on the trip to South Africa by Ghana's delegation to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Draw and fact-finding towards Ghana's participation in the tournament.

Mr Pelpuo said the ex pectant Sports Bill is billed to go to the Attorney General Department

and Cabinet before the end of year and will seek to resolve some of the things that contradict

with international regulations. The IOC's call for fresh elections forms the highlight of a four point recommendation by the

international body signed by Pierre Mero, of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Relations

Department and addressed to the Minister and GOC President, Benson T. Baba. The recommendation is a follow-up of discussions between an IOC team, the GOC and

Government from November 2 to 4, which was aimed at smoking the peace-pipe engulfing the

National Olympic movement. The Incumbent GOC President, B.T. Baba is said to have made a formal complaint to the

IOC after the Committees' General Assembly unanimously voted former athlete, Professor

Francis Dodoo as the new President on June 30. The divisions within the GOC nearly led to a global ban of Ghana from all sporting

disciplines, necessitating mediation by the world body.