Olympic Solidarity course for Ghanaian Sports Journalists

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the African National Olympic Associations (ANOCA) organized a two day seminar for sports journalists in Ghana. 40 experienced and young rising sports journalists drawn from the print, radio, television, internet and photo media, the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) converged at the Theodocia Okoh Hockey Stadium Conference room for the programme which was aimed at equipping the sports press with the necessary knowledge, information and skills to report better on the Olympics and other international events. It was also to build their capacity on how to use right discretion, fairness, balanced and accurate reporting as well as use the correct jargon for the various sports disciplines and exhibition of journalistic ethics.

The four interesting topics – Olympism and the Olympic Games; the role of the GOC in Sports Development in Ghana; Media Coverage of Olympic Games, Issues of Accuracy, Fairness and Journalistic Ethics as well as Funding and Sports in Ghana were treated by experienced personalities like Mr. Peter Kpordugbe – GOC Honourary Member, Richard Akpokavie, Secretary General of the GOC, Mr. Ken Bediako, a Seasoned Sports Journalist and Prof. Francis Dodoo, President of the GOC respectively. The interactive programme between the media and GOC officials came to an agreement that government, which funds travels of national teams and organizes international competitions alone can not bear the burden of financing sporting activities, so there was the need for other organisations and companies to sponsor or support some sporting disciplines and events.

The sports journalists pleaded with the Parliament of Ghana to pass the Sports Law as the SMCD54 that operates was outmoded and has contributed to some sports associations doing little or none activity. The Deputy Minister o Youth and Sports Hon. Joseph Yamin who graced the closing session assured the media that the Sports Bill would be passed as it has gone through the consultancy stage and urged the journalists to cover news from the least financed or lesser known sports.

Mr. S.D. Donkor, a member of the GFA Womens League Board tasked the media to promote Womens Sports. The SWAG award winner said the women of Ghana played at the World Cup in 1994 before the Black Stars in 2006, yet the women’s game is not developing as expected and pleaded with the media to research and promote womens sports.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Deputy General Secretary Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG)