A group made up of some Presidents of National Sports Federations that calls itself
bona fide members of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) led by Nii Adotey Din Barima
organized a press conference to rubbish the modalities set by the Executive Board of
the GOC in respect to the upcoming congress, and had sworn to render the whole
process null and void either by the hook or crook, certain individuals among this
same group who claimed to be highly connected to the ruling government stage an
unsuccessful coup at the last GOC congress which took place at the Liberty Crown
Hotel resulting to the impasse which attracted the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) ban, I happened to represent my former media house, and was preview to all
that went on that day.
The IOC finally agreed to lift the ban on Ghana Sports by setting a Road Map to be
followed, which among other things mandated B T Baba`s recognized administration to
call for congress not later than the 31st of October 2011, this the Ghana Olympic
Committee (GOC) have comply by fixing 29th October 2011 as the day for congress at
the Miklin Hotel Kumasi and have set up the Road Map for the congress, this
charlatans have however resurface again and are breathing brimstone and fire to
ensure darkness cover Ghana sports once more and if care is not taking the IOC will
have no option than to delete the name of Ghana from the Olympic Games roll call
come 2012 and render the efforts of the second gentleman of the land Hon. John
Dramani Mahama, the Sports Minister Hon. Kofi Humado and other top ranking
personalities in both the sporting and governmental circles useless.
All concerns raised by the group in their resolution have its answers in the GOC
constitution and the explanations given in this piece. , it therefore marvels me why
they did not take the pain to go through the GOC constitution but were rather
interested in throwing dust into our eyes and drag the name of B T Baba to the mud.
Down memory lane this same people stage a coup on the Ghana Football Association
(GFA) and for the steadfastness of Kwesi Nyantakyi and his team of executives our
football would have been in Shambles today. Are we saying for the fact that the ban
have been lifted, any individual who claim to be part of a Federation should be
allowed to be part of GOC`s Congress without being quizzed to ascertain the
legitimacy of he or she or conducting thorough investigations into federations that
claim to be affiliated to the GOC, definitely not, certain standards have to be met.
The Road Map, the GOC released guidelines for elections to the Executive Board in
the upcoming congress by spelling out the positions available for nominations and
those eligible to contest in accordance with Article 10, and 11.3 of the GOC
constitution which states that, the president and all other officers of the
Executive Board may be re-elected for successive four-year terms.
For the avoidance of doubt, an officer of the Executive Board shall not cease to be
an officer by reason of the fact that he or she no longer represents an Association.
This implies that old executive members before the impasse are eligible to contest
for re-election irrespective of the fact that he or she is attach to an Association
or not.
Number 5 of the guidelines to congress among other things which records that persons
vying for position as officers of the Executive Board should have served as members
of the Executive Board of the GOC or their federation for a period not less than
four years, have created a lot of controversies with a cross section of the public
seeing it as a calculated attempt by the GOC to deny certain people the right to
contest in the election, after a pains taking investigations and research into the
GOC Constitution I chanced on Article 14.1 which empowers the Executive Board as
indicated in Article 10, to enact rules and regulations to govern it affairs, and I
quote the Executive Board may meet to formulate regulations as it deems fit to
govern its business. .
People are made to serve a year, two or more probation in our societies today before
they are granted full membership status in most establishment; in this regard I see
nothing wrong for serving a four year term on such a high profile organization like
the GOC before enjoying some privileges, if not for people’s selfish interest.
I believe one might have acquaint himself and mature enough in the Olympic Movement
within the four years and ready to hold any position at his disposal, B T Baba who
have come under heavy attack this few days is on record to have served for 16 years
under Justice Annan, Nkansah Dzani, Peter purdorgbey and K N Owusu before getting
the Nod as president of the GOC. Number 8 of the guideline indicate that a
federation endorsing any person for an executive position must be properly
affiliated to the GOC in accordance with Article 16 and 17.1-2 of the GOC
constitution.
Article 16 for example records that National Associations seeking affiliation with
the GOC shall supply their constitution and all such information as the GOC may
require including minutes of elections held recently showing its current executive,
this Means Federations that was formed during the GOC impasse and have not submitted
their constitution and other relevant materials to the GOC as require shall not
partake of the election, examples of such federations are Kick Boxing, Body
Building, Karate-do, Cards playing and others, whiles federations such as
Basketball, Badminton, Rowing, Weightlifting, and Triathlon which Ghana participated
in the Manchester Commonwealth Games under the regime of Sandy Osei Agyemang are
yet to be confirmed by their respective international bodies.
Fencing, Gymnastics, Archery, Equestrian, Sailing, Shooting, Wrestling and Modern
Pentathlon have no records of being organized on Association level in the nation,
leaving the Executive Board with no option than to erase it from the list of
recognized federation and replaced with Para-Olympic, Baseball, which are well known
disciplines and have good standings with the GOC and Badminton, Weightlifting,
Baseball and Triathlon which has records with the GOC to conform to Bye-law to
Rules 28 and 29 sub-sections 1.2 of the Olympic Charter which states that proof must
be adduced that the national federations which are members of the National Olympic
Committee (NOC) exercise a specific and a real on-going Sports activity in their
country and internationally, in particular by organizing and participating in
competitions and implementing training programmes for athletes and Article 16 which
talks about Affiliation to the GOC, thou the election committee is yet
to receive confirmation from their respective international Federations.
Qualifications of candidates as stated in number 14 of the guidelines, which have
also created heated argument was not manufactured by B T Baba but conform with
Article 3(1), and 29(7) of the constitution which states that the members of the GOC
shall be citizens of the Republic of Ghana and persons of good standing, of upright
character, sound judgment and of independent mind, with a knowledge of and believe
in the Olympic principle.
The Olympic Charter frowns on third parties and political influence as captured in
Article 29.2 sub-section ©, Article 29.5 clearly states that the GOC shall not
associate itself with any organization established for political or commercial
nature, this includes persons holding political appointments such as party,
Chairman, organizer or presidential appointments, but a Member of Parliament elected
by the people can serve on the GOC.
It will be disastrous to forget so soon that people with political appointment
succeeded in toppling the last GOC congress leading to the impasse. It will interest
one to know that the Executive Board has the powers to form Sub-committees as
recorded in Article 14.1, and Article 20 of the GOC constitution which states that
the Executive Board may also at anytime appoint any other sub-committees, upon such
terms as the Board shall determine, and may appoint any person whether he or she is
a member of the Board or not, to serve on such sub-committees, then also Article 12
which talks about the functions of the Executive Board sub-section 4 which states,
To appoint such sub-committees as the GOC may deem, fit.
Which has been a subject of contention originally reads, to appoint such
sub-committees as the Executive Board may deem, fit. According to the original
signed constitution which I chanced on, also we shouldn`t forget the fact that
sub-section 4 is under Article 12 which talks about the Functions of the Executive
Board.
The attitude of Dr. Debora Cubbage who parade herself as the 2nd vice president of
both the B T Baba and Professor Dodoo GOC have violated the constitution for failing
to attend meetings irrespective of the fact that she was given notice or not as
indicated in Article 22.3 that talks about Absenteeism and Article 7 which states,
At least twenty-one (21) days notice in writing shall be given to all members before
any congress.
The said notice shall specify the place, date, time of the meeting and the business
to be transacted.
An omission to give notice to member(s) or the non receipt of any notice by any
member shall not prevent the meeting from taking place can best be describe as a
traitor (for biting the finger that fed her).
Doctor failed to appear before the Executive Board to explain why action should not
be taking against her when she was called upon to do so, she is on record for
calling B T Baba a crazy man and being caught up by age and a hijacker of sports
which to me will not help in finding solutions to the issues at stake and will
therefore advice Doctor as a son to watch his utterances especially when dealing
with the Press.
I would have love the Elections postpone until after the Olympic Games as captured
in Article 11.1 that states, Officers and members of the Executive Board shall be
elected at the General Assembly (congress) which shall take place after each Summer
Olympic Games, upon secret ballot, by a majority of the votes cast. So as to allow
all the dust to settled if I had my own way.
Truth crush to the ground shall definitely rise agai
