Dodoo continues with GOC business unabated

Accra, July 16, GNA - Prof. Francis Dodoo says he will continue to hold himself as President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and pursue the interest of the organization unabated.

He said refusal to do so will amount to disenfranchising the mandate to lead the GOC for a four year tenure.

A letter emanated from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last week recognizing Mr Benson T. Baba as President of the GOC but Prof. Dodoo insists it is difficult to accept that the communiqu=E9 came from the global body.

The IOC and the Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa (ANOCA) said they will not recognize the election of Prof. Dodoo as the President of the GOC.

The statement said the two bodies will continue to recognize Mr Baba as the GOC President until the election process is duly completed in a legal, democratic, fair and transparent manner based on the constitution of the GOC.

Prof. Dodoo however told GNA Sports in Accra on Thursday that "It is difficult for me to believe such a letter will come from the IOC.

"The letter was not addressed to us and again the IOC we know which believes in fair-play and Olympism among others will not listen to a commentary from an individual and cast a verdict without investigating."

Prof. Dodoo said the letter jointly signed by Pere Miro, IOC National Olympic Committee (NOC), Relations Director and General Lassana Palenfo, ANOCA President and IOC member was inconsistent with earlier communiqu=E9 sent to the new GOC executive by ANOCA.

The Chairman of the Ghana Athletics Association said the recent brouhaha is putting a damper on the new executives' quest to turn things around but fails to acknowledge it as a distraction.

Prof. Dodoo's focus is on fine-tuning programmes and mapping up the right attitude and strategies for Ghana to reclaim her lost glory at international events and he insists that vision is not about to change until success is achieved.