IOC Calls B. T. Baba’s Bluff

Directs Him To Use Approved Electoral Process

Intelligence Report

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), unable to tolerate any longer, the latest of pranks being employed by the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President, Mr. Benson Tongo Baba, ostensibly to enable him manipulate Ghana’s committee electoral process, has called off his sham, as its demands that he follow the right procedure as specified in the GOC constitution in the organization of the October, 29th congress.

A letter cited by The Informer which content cannot be taken for granted, is requesting that the GOC President, without delay convenes a meeting of all National Olympic Committee (NOC) members prior to the elective General Assembly that has stirred the controversy.

The strong worded letter jointly signed by Pere Miro and General Lassana Palenfo, IOC National Olympic Committee's (NOC) Relationship Director and President of ANOCA respectively, dated 18th October, 2011, demands that B.T. Baba meets with NOC members to review and agree on the electoral process, which should be implemented; and to settle any issues in advance to the congress.

According to these Officials, although they do not want to argue any further about the elections process and guidelines, as outlined earlier on by B. T, Baba, in his unilateral draft, their position, as already been stated, in which they reiterate in a very clear and detailed manner, request that the basic principles be respected.

The letter currently in our custody, further indicates that the IOC would consider as final decisions made by the General Assembly in accordance with the NOC's statutes and the Olympic Charter; and not what B. T. Baba and his group has decided to do.

IOC keeping to its pledge of fair-play, directed that the NOC election process be made democratic, free, fair and transparent.

In addition, the IOC has prescribed that the composition of the NOC General Assembly must be based on the list of National Federations (and their legitimate representatives) as confirmed by their respective International Federations (IFs), governing sports on the programme of the Olympic Games, and further warned, that any issue relating to the composition of the General Assembly, the eligibility of candidates, the election process in itself and others, must be reported to the General Assembly as the highest decision-making body of the NOC (as set out in the NOC Status) for consideration and appropriate decision taken before proceeding with the elections.

In a related development, however, some thirty three (33) representatives of the National Sports Federations in Ghana have written to Mr. B.T. Baba demanding that he organises an extraordinary congress of the General Assembly of the GOC, citing the IOC Charter Rule 28 as their authority.

According to them, should B. T. Baba fail to comply with the said directive, as bona fide members of the GOC General Assembly, they will organize the extraordinary congress, based on the power vested in them by the IOC Charter.

With all these developments and controversies that have engulfed the GOC, following B. T. Baba’s selfish principle, as well as the danger that it is likely to pose to Ghana and its sports men and women, we are calling on the appropriate authority to quickly step in to serve the situation before Ghana is banned from partaking in the next Olympic Games slated to take place in England.

Attached are the letters from IOC and that of the thirty three (33) representatives of the National Sports Federations.