"We will reverse decision if." - Prof. Dodoo

Accra, July 8, GNA - Professor Francis Dodoo, newly elected president of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has stated that his outfit will try to reverse the recent election of Benson Tongo Baba as one of the Vice Presidents of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) if he contested on the ticket of the GOC.

"If he contested in his individual capacity, then we will support him in the interest of Ghana sports, but if it was a position meant for the GOC, then we will seek audience with ANOCA in order to reverse it".

Prof. Dodoo stated at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday. Mr Baba who is currently participating in the quadrennial Congress of ANOCA in Abuja, Nigeria, was last Tuesday elected as the Second Vice President of ANOCA.

Asked why he did not attend the Congress on the ticket of the GOC, Prof. Dodoo said he was unaware of the timing of the Congress and explained that the registration and preparation for the Congress was firmed up about 12 months ago.

Commenting on the circumstances surrounding his election into office, Prof. Dodoo said those questioning the legitimacy of the elections have taken pains to follow the facts on the ground.

He said Congress, the highest decision making body of the GOC followed the due process in holding the elections, which was conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

Prof. Dodoo said the elections were conducted in the presence of the then Second Vice President of the GOC, which made it legitimate as stipulated in the constitution of the Committee.

He said the decision by Mr Baba, the former President of the GOC to call off the Congress was improper because he could not do that in his individual capacity as Congress was the highest decision making body.

Prof. Dodoo dismissed claims that an initial list of delegates was torn into shreds by Nii Lantey Vanderpuije as purported by the ex-administration.

He presented a crumbled list of members to the media as evidence as well as an official list presented to the GOC by the National Sports Council (NSC). The President said his outfit has notified the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the change of guard at the GOC.