Ghana close to rejoining IOC

Accra, June 28, GNA - Ghana is a step away from rejoining the International Olympics Movement, following what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) describes as 93considerable progress" that has been made towards amending the country's sports legislation.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Clement Humado, copied to GNA in Accra on Monday. It said: 93In a communiqu=E9 after a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland between the IOC, the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and Government, the IOC said in recognition of the progress made, the IOC Executive Board would consider the lifting of the suspension following the passage by Parliament of the new Sports Legislative Instrument that will replace LI 1088". The statement noted that the Sports Minister, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, to the Lausanne meeting, said Parliament was expected to adopt the new legislation by the 6th of July thi= s year.

"It was agreed during the meeting on June 24, 2011, which was also attended by a GOC team led by Benson T. Baba, that the GOC would immediatel= y initiate the various preparatory processes that will culminate in the holding of the elections to ensure that elections are held as soon as possible after the suspension is lifted," the statement said. It indicated that once the suspension of the GOC is lifted by the IOC Executive Board, the GOC shall immediately take all necessary steps to convene its elective General Assembly as soon as possible.

The statement said the IOC would supervise the process, according to the Communiqu=E9, with all parties agreeing to 93work together in a constructive matter in order to benefit sports and the athletes of Ghana"= .. The IOC suspended Ghana because of concerns with the country's sport= s law, which it did not find compatible with the principles and rules of the Olympic Charter.

The action was in January this year by the IOC Executive Board because of what it said was lack of commitment to amending the sports legislation i= n Ghana before the end of 2010.