Blog Details

The Athletes’ Commission of the Ghana Olympic Committee has issued a strong call for all national sports federations to establish Athletes’ Commissions, insisting that meaningful athlete representation is essential to improving welfare, career transition and decision-making across Ghanaian sport.

The appeal was made at the GOAC 2026 Forum, a one-day workshop held last Saturday at the GNAT Hall in Accra on the theme “Strengthening Athletes’ Representation and Welfare in Ghanaian Sports.”

The forum drew athletes from a wide range of disciplines and was attended by Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President, Richard Akpokavie, and former head of the country's Olympic movement, Prof. Francis Dodoo.

IOC-inspired model
Modelled on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, the GOAC was first established in 2016 but became inactive a year later after the previous GOC administration declined to grant it voting rights.

Its fortunes changed under the current GOC leadership, with Mr Akpokavie,  himself a former national hockey player, restoring the commission upon assuming office last year and granting it representation on the GOC board.

Elections were subsequently held on October 4, 2025, formally relaunching the body and ushering in a new eight-member executive. The leadership is headed by Rio 2016 javelin Olympian John Ampomah as Chairman, with swimmer Abeku Jackson as Vice-Chairman. Sprinter Gemma Acheampong serves as General Secretary, assisted by 200m and 400m runner Emmanuel Dasor.

The executive also includes 2016 Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games boxing medallist Abdul Wahid Omar as Treasurer, table tennis stalwart Cecilia Baah Danso as Assistant Treasurer, and Olympians Alberta Ampomah (weightlifting and armwrestling) and Kaya Forson (swimming) as executive members.

Discussions at the forum focused on the history, mandate and role of the GOAC within the GOC, as well as the critical importance of federation-level Athletes’ Commissions in national sports development. Participants were guided through the processes for establishing such bodies, eligibility and nomination procedures to the GOAC Federation Representation Council, and took part in a panel discussion examining challenges and growth opportunities for federation Athletes’ Commissions.

GOAC Chairman Ampomah expressed delight at the turnout, describing it as a positive signal of growing athlete engagement, an area he admitted had previously been a major challenge.

“Our core mission is to represent the athletes’ voice and welfare on the GOC, as recommended by the IOC,” Ampomah said. “We are excited and grateful for the consistency of the GOC president in putting athletes first since he took office and giving athletes a seat at the GOC table.”

He stressed that the formation of Athletes’ Commissions across all federations would be transformative. “We are advocating for all federations in Ghana to establish Athletes’ Commissions to give athletes a voice and strengthen their role in sports development.

This can help facilitate scholarships, sponsorships and access to the right equipment. We can go far when athletes are involved in decision-making,” he noted.

Accountability
Guest speaker Prof. Dodoo, a former elite athlete and newly appointed Chairman of the Ghana Anti-Doping Agency (GADA), challenged athletes to hold their federation leadership accountable, stressing that it was the responsibility of federations -— not the GOC —- to secure funding and manage their affairs.

The GOC boss, for his part, entreated athletes to familiarise themselves with the newly established Ghana Sports Fund and take collective advantage of its provisions to support international assignments.

“I urge you to plan early, understand the costs involved in your competitions and how much your federation can support, and submit your requests in good time,” he advised.

“Remember to send requests as a group, not individually. You now have a voice and must use it prudently. It is important that you are recognised for your hard work, and the GOC is here to ensure that your federations do so,” he added.